Shloka 10
Gārhasthya-Śreṣṭhatā and Kṣatriya-Daṇḍadhāraṇa
Householder Primacy and the Royal Duty of Punishment
यज्ञो विद्या समुत्थानमसंतोष: श्रयं प्रति । दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम्
yajño vidyā samutthānam asantoṣaḥ śriyaṃ prati | daṇḍadhāraṇam ugrātvaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam ||
毗耶娑说道：“祭祀、求学、奋发进取（包括出师讨敌）、对王者福祚永不自满、随时准备执持刑罚、严峻的勇武，以及护佑百姓——这些便是君王之本分。若能善行之，便能成就其今世与来世的安稳。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is a balanced discipline: religious responsibility (yajña), education (vidyā), energetic initiative (samutthāna), vigilance against complacency in power (asantoṣa toward śrī), firm law-enforcement (daṇḍadhāraṇa), and above all the protection and welfare of the people (prajā-paripālana).
In the Shānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Vyāsa enumerates key royal duties, outlining the qualities and actions expected of kṣatriya rulers as part of rajadharma.