Shloka 17
Daṇḍa, Ahiṃsā, and Proportional Kingship: The Dyumatsena–Satyavān Dialogue (दण्ड-अहिंसा-विवेकः)
महाजना ह्ापावृत्ता राजधर्म समाश्रिता: । न हि सर्वहित: कश्चिदाचार: सम्प्रवर्तते
mahājanā hy apāvṛttā rājadharma-samāśritāḥ | na hi sarvahitaḥ kaścid ācāraḥ sampravartate ||
玉提湿陀罗说：“即便是卓越之人，有时也会背离自身惯常的本分，而转而依凭君王治国之法与武士之道。因此，不能说有任何一种行为准则对所有人都同样有利，也不能说有任何一种实践能被众人以同一方式遵行。”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is context-sensitive: even exemplary authorities may adopt rājadharma when circumstances demand, so no single ācāra can be universally beneficial or uniformly applicable to all people in all situations.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on the variability of right conduct, noting that even great authorities sometimes shift from their usual duty to the demands of kingship and the warrior’s code, highlighting the complexity of ethical decision-making.