Shloka 26
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
व्यवसायं समाधाय सूर्यो रश्मीनिवायतान् | धर्ममेवाभिरक्षेत कृत्वा तुल्ये प्रियाप्रिये
vyavasāyaṃ samādhāya sūryo raśmīn ivāyatān | dharmam evābhirakṣeta kṛtvā tulye priyāpriye ||
毗湿摩说道：国王当坚立其志，如太阳舒展广远之光；唯当护持达摩，将可爱与可憎视为平等。以恒常之勤与无私之公，奉正义为至上之责，庇护众生，不为个人好恶所动。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be steadfast in effort and impartial in judgment, not driven by personal preference. His primary obligation is to protect dharma—public righteousness and just order—just as the sun spreads its rays for the benefit of all.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on ideal kingship. Here he uses the sun’s universally extended rays as an image for a king’s impartial protection of dharma and subjects.