Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 41
Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)
विहितं दृश्यते राजन् सागरान्तां च मेदिनीम् | क्षत्रियो हि स्वधर्मेण श्रियं प्राप्रोति भूयसीम् । राजा दण्डधरो राजन रक्षा नान्यत्र क्षत्रियात्
vihitaṃ dṛśyate rājan sāgarāntāṃ ca medinīm | kṣatriyo hi svadharmeṇa śriyaṃ prāpnoti bhūyasīm | rājā daṇḍadharo rājan rakṣā nānyatra kṣatriyāt | rājā yudhiṣṭhira |
毗湿摩说道：“噢，大王，诸论典规定：直至环海之地的王权，是为刹帝利（Kṣatriya）所设。确然，刹帝利守持自身之达摩，便能获得巨大的繁荣与光辉。噢，大王，统治者乃执持刑杖（daṇḍa）之人；护卫之事，除刹帝利之外，别无所出——噢，坚战王（Yudhiṣṭhira）。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that political authority, prosperity, and especially the duty of protection are śāstrically assigned to the Kṣatriya; the king must wield daṇḍa (lawful punishment) to secure order and safety.
In his instruction to King Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma, Bhīṣma emphasizes the Kṣatriya’s role as ruler and protector, asserting that security and governance depend on the king’s disciplined use of authority.