Shloka 8
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
तदग्रे राजधर्मान् हि मदर्थे त्वं पितामह । प्रत्रूहि भरतश्रेष्ठ त्वं हि धर्मभूतां वर:,अतः भरतश्रेष्ठ पितामह! आप सबसे पहले मेरे लिये राजधर्मोका ही वर्णन कीजिये; क्योंकि आप धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ हैं
tad agre rājadharmān hi madarthe tvaṃ pitāmaha | prabrūhi bharataśreṣṭha tvaṃ hi dharmabhūtānāṃ varaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “Vì vậy, thưa Tổ phụ, xin trước hết hãy nói cho con—vì con—về bổn phận của vương quyền. Ôi bậc tối thượng trong dòng Bharata, xin chỉ dạy con; bởi giữa những người chính trực, ngài là bậc đứng đầu.”
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames rajadharma as the first and foundational topic for a ruler seeking moral clarity: legitimate power must be guided by dharma, and the seeker should approach a qualified elder-teacher with humility and a clear request for instruction.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira turns to Bhīṣma (lying on his bed of arrows) for guidance. He requests that Bhīṣma begin by explaining the duties and ethical principles of kingship, acknowledging him as the foremost authority among the righteous.