Shloka 7
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
अर्थसिद्धि: पर धर्म मन््यते यो महीपति: । वृद्धयां च कुरुते बुद्धिं स धर्मेण विराजते
arthasiddhiḥ paraṃ dharmaṃ manyate yo mahīpatiḥ | vṛddhyāṃ ca kurute buddhiṃ sa dharmeṇa virājate ||
وام دیو نے کہا—“جو فرمانروا دولت کی کامیابی کو دھرم کے مقابلے میں ثانوی سمجھتا ہے اور دھرم کی افزونی ہی میں اپنے دل و دماغ کو لگاتا ہے، وہ دھرم ہی کے سبب حقیقی جلال و جمال پاتا ہے۔”
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should treat material success (artha-siddhi) as subordinate to dharma and actively use judgment to expand righteousness; such a ruler gains genuine glory through dharma, not merely through wealth or power.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous rule and conduct, Vāmadeva articulates a standard for kingship: the ideal king prioritizes dharma and cultivates policies and decisions that increase it, thereby becoming truly illustrious.