Shloka 43
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
प्राचेतसेन मनुना श्लोकौ चेमावुदाहतौ । राजधर्मेषु राजेन्द्र ताविहैकमना: शृणु,राजेन्द्र! प्राचेतस मनुने राजधर्मके विषयमें ये दो श्लोक कहे हैं। तुम एकचित होकर उन दोनों श्लोकोंको यहाँ सुनो
prācetasena manunā ślokau cemāv udāhṛtau | rājadharmeṣu rājendra tāv ihaikamanāḥ śṛṇu ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Tâu Đại vương, về đạo trị nước (rājadharma), Manu—con của Pracetā—xưa kia đã thốt lên hai câu kệ này. Nay xin bệ hạ nhất tâm, không tán loạn, mà lắng nghe hai câu ấy tại đây.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames rāja-dharma as a disciplined, authoritative teaching: Bhīṣma signals that what follows is grounded in Manu’s traditional authority and must be received with focused attention, implying that governance requires careful listening, restraint, and adherence to established ethical norms.
During Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira in the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma introduces two verses attributed to Manu (Prācetasa) on the duties of kings, asking the king to listen attentively before the cited guidance is delivered.