Shloka 20
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
यच्चास्य कार्य वृजिनमार्जवेनैव धारयेत् । दम्भनार्थ च लोकस्य धर्मिष्ठामाचरेत् क्रियाम्
yaccāsya kārya vṛjinam ārjavenaiva dhārayet | dambhanārthaṃ ca lokasya dharmiṣṭhām ācaret kriyām ||
毗湿摩说道：君王纵有不得不为之不义之举，也当以坦直之心承担（不诡曲，不遮掩）。并且为世间立范，他应行最坚固地立于达摩之业，使众人不为伪善所惑，而由正行所引导。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when compelled to deal with morally tainted necessities, one should act with straightforward honesty and avoid deceit; at the same time, one must actively practice the most dharmic conduct so that society is guided by genuine righteousness rather than hypocrisy.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and governance. Here he emphasizes integrity (ārjava) and the ruler’s duty to model righteous action publicly, warning against conduct that becomes mere show (dambha) and misleads the world.