Shloka 34
राजधर्मः—राष्ट्ररक्षणं, दण्डनीतिः, हयग्रीवोपाख्यानम्
Royal Duty: Protection, Penal Policy, and the Hayagrīva Exemplum
जो राजा अहंकार छोड़कर बुद्धिमानीसे नीतिके अनुसार राज्यकी रक्षा करता है, स्वभावसे ही यज्ञके अनुष्ठानमें लगा रहता है और धर्मकी रक्षाको दृष्टिमें रखकर सम्पूर्ण लोकोंमें विचरता है, वह महामनस्वी नरेश देहत्यागके पश्चात् देवलोकमें आनन्द भोगता है ।।
vyāsa uvāca | jitvā saṅgrāmān pālayitvā ca rāṣṭraṃ somaṃ pītvā vardhayitvā prajāḥ | yuktyā daṇḍaṃ dhārayitvā prajānāṃ yuddhe kṣīṇo modate devaloke ||
毗耶娑说：那位国王，既能征服战阵而护持邦国；又能依正仪行祭，饮苏摩；使臣民兴盛；并以明断执持惩罚，以安民立序——如此君主，若尽责而力竭，战死沙场，便在天界欢享喜乐。此教义称颂以谦卑为本、依法治国、承担祭祀之责并护持达摩的王道，视为正义奉公而殒身者，得大功德之终。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler who governs without ego, protects the realm, supports sacrifice and prosperity, and applies punishment with discernment for the people’s welfare—if he dies in righteous battle—attains devaloka. The verse links political power (daṇḍa) to dharma and accountability.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on royal duty, Vyāsa describes the ideal king’s conduct—victory and protection, ritual responsibility, public welfare, and judicious discipline—and states the heavenly reward for a king who is exhausted in such duty and falls in war.