Shloka 42
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
तद्राज्ये राज्यकामानां नान्यो धर्म: सनातन: । ऋते रक्षां तु विस्पष्टां रक्षा लोकस्य धारिणी
tad rājye rājyakāmānāṁ nānyo dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | ṛte rakṣāṁ tu vispaṣṭāṁ rakṣā lokasya dhāriṇī ||
毗湿摩说道：对于渴求并执掌王权的君王而言，在其国土之内，除却以明晰而有力之法护佑臣民之外，别无他种永恒之义务。唯有护民，方能支撑世界；君王守护百姓，便维系秩序、公正，以及社会赖以安定的根基。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s foremost and perennial dharma is the protection of the people; effective safeguarding is presented as the foundation that sustains society and the world’s order.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira that rulership is justified and sanctified primarily through the ruler’s duty to protect subjects, making security and welfare the king’s central obligation.