Shloka 17
उतथ्योपदेशः—राजधर्मः, दर्पनिग्रहः, प्रजारक्षणम्
Utathya’s Instruction: Royal Dharma, Restraint of Pride, Protection of Subjects
धर्मे वर्धति वर्धन्ति सर्वभूतानि सर्वदा | तस्मिन् हसति ह्ीयन्ते तस्माद् धर्म न लोपयेत्,धर्मकी वृद्धि होनेपर सदा समस्त प्राणियोंका अभ्युदय होता है और उसका हास होनेपर सबका ह्वास हो जाता है; अतः धर्मका कभी लोप नहीं होने देना चाहिये
dharme vardhati vardhante sarvabhūtāni sarvadā | tasmin hasati hīyante tasmād dharma na lopayet ||
Khi Dharma tăng trưởng, muôn loài luôn hưng thịnh. Khi Dharma suy giảm, tất cả đều hao mòn. Vì vậy, chớ bao giờ để Dharma bị mất hay bị diệt.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is the sustaining principle of collective well-being: when it is strengthened, all beings prosper; when it is weakened, universal decline follows. Hence dharma must be protected and not allowed to lapse.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and right conduct, the sage Utathya teaches a general law of moral order: the rise and fall of dharma directly shapes the welfare of all living beings, urging the listener (especially a ruler or responsible person) to preserve dharma.