Shloka 17
जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः
Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शान्तिपर्वके अन्तर्गत राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वमें युधिष्ठिरका वाक्यविषयक सत्रहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,निपानं सर्वभूतानां भूत्वा त्वं पावनं महत् | आद्यो वनस्पतिर्भूत्वा सो<न्यांस्त्वं पर्युपाससे
nipānaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ bhūtvā tvaṁ pāvanaṁ mahat | ādyo vanaspatir bhūtvā so ’nyāṁs tvaṁ paryupāsase ||
“你已成为众生的汲水之所，是伟大的净化者；你已成为林木之首，伫立扶持、护养其余诸树。”此言赞颂一位典范：其以达摩之职无偏地维系生命——如公共水源普济群生，如大树为众木蔽荫滋养——从而将王道与领导之义，界定为服务、护佑与净化社群。
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True leadership (rājadharma) is measured by how one sustains and purifies society: like a common watering-place open to all beings, and like a foremost tree that shelters and supports others. The ethical ideal is impartial beneficence, protection, and service rather than self-interest.
Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira’s speech employs metaphors of a watering-place and a great tree to praise (or characterize) an exemplary supporter of others, reinforcing the expectation that a ruler or noble person exists for the welfare of all beings.