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Shloka 24

Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)

रक्षाधिकरणं युद्ध तथा धर्मानुशासनम्‌ । मन्त्रचिन्ता सुखं काले पञ्चभिर्वर्धते मही

rakṣādhikaraṇaṃ yuddhaṃ tathā dharmānuśāsanam | mantracintā sukhaṃ kāle pañcabhir vardhate mahī ||

Vāmadeva nói: “Một vương quốc hưng thịnh nhờ năm chỗ nương: hệ thống phòng vệ và an ninh được sắp đặt nghiêm chỉnh, sự sẵn sàng cho chiến tranh, trị quốc theo Dharma, suy xét thấu đáo về mưu lược và chính sách, và ban phát an lạc, phúc lợi cho dân đúng thời. Nhờ năm điều ấy, quốc độ tăng trưởng về sức mạnh và sự ổn định.”

रक्षाprotection
रक्षा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरक्षा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
अधिकरणम्administration/department (sphere)
अधिकरणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअधिकरण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
युद्धम्war
युद्धम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तथाand/also
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
धर्मdharma; righteousness
धर्म:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अनुशासनम्governance; discipline; instruction
अनुशासनम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअनुशासन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
मन्त्रcounsel; policy; mantra
मन्त्र:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमन्त्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चिन्ताreflection; deliberation
चिन्ता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootचिन्ता
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
सुखम्happiness; welfare
सुखम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसुख
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
कालेin due time; at the proper time
काले:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
पञ्चभिःby five (means)
पञ्चभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्चन्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
वर्धतेgrows; prospers
वर्धते:
TypeVerb
Rootवृध्
FormPresent, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular
महीthe earth; the kingdom/realm
मही:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमही
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular

वामदेव उवाच

V
Vāmadeva
M
mahī (the realm/earth)

Educational Q&A

A ruler’s realm flourishes when five pillars are maintained together: internal security, military capability, dharma-guided administration, prudent counsel and strategic deliberation, and timely public welfare. Prosperity is presented as an ethical and administrative achievement, not merely economic gain.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, the sage Vāmadeva speaks as a teacher of statecraft, summarizing the essential functions by which a king sustains and expands the kingdom.