Shloka 25
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
तस्य विस्तीर्यते राज्यं ज्योत्स्ना ग्रहपतेरिव । प्रभो! जो अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार कर्तव्यका ठीक-ठीक पालन करते और संतुष्ट रहते हैं
tasya vistīryate rājyaṃ jyotsnā grahapater iva |
毗湿摩说：那位君王的国土将扩展而铺陈——如群星之主（月亮）的月光。此偈在义理上称颂：君王若与真正卓越之士结盟——坚忍、有戒、可信、契合法——其王权便自然增长，正如月华恒常充满夜空。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s power and stability grow when he aligns himself with virtuous, disciplined, trustworthy people; ethical alliances and good counsel cause the realm to expand naturally, like moonlight spreading from the Moon.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on statecraft and conduct, using a poetic simile: the king who makes concord with excellent men sees his kingdom broaden like the Moon’s radiance.