Shloka 15
अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira
न जात्वस्य च वंशस्य राज्ञां कश्चित् कदाचन । राजा55सीद् यः प्रजापाल: प्रजानामप्रियो5भवत्,“इस राजवंशमें कभी कोई भी ऐसा राजा नहीं हुआ, जो प्रजापालन करते समय समस्त प्रजाओंको प्रिय न रहा हो
na jātvasya ca vaṃśasya rājñāṃ kaścit kadācana | rājāsīd yaḥ prajā-pālaḥ prajānām apriyo 'bhavat ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Trong dòng dõi vương gia này, chưa từng—dù vào bất cứ thời nào—có một vị vua nào, khi hộ trì và cai quản muôn dân, lại trở thành người bị thần dân ghét bỏ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal of rulership: a king who truly protects and nurtures his subjects (prajā-pālana) should not become hateful to them. Legitimate authority is grounded in welfare, justice, and care, which naturally generate public affection and trust.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, praises the character of a particular dynasty by asserting that no king in that lineage ever became unpopular while performing the duty of protecting the people—highlighting the dynasty’s reputation for righteous governance.