Shloka 19
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
स्वेषु धर्मेष्ववस्थाप्य प्रजा: सर्वा महीपति: । धर्मेण सर्वकृत्यानि शमनिष्ठानि कारयेत्
sveṣu dharmeṣv avasthāpya prajāḥ sarvā mahīpatiḥ | dharmeṇa sarvakṛtyāni śamanīṣṭhāni kārayet ||
毗湿摩说道：君王既已使一切臣民各安其分、坚立于各自之职分，当依达摩令一切必要之事皆以和平与克制之心而行，使公共生活凭借合法、安抚而利民的作为推进，而非以强迫或紊乱为之。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s primary ethical duty is to anchor society in each group’s rightful responsibilities (svadharma) and to administer all state actions through dharma, aiming at śamana—peace, restraint, and the calming of conflict—rather than arbitrary force.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on rajadharma (the duties of rulership). Here he emphasizes orderly governance: the king should ensure subjects follow their proper duties and should direct all public affairs lawfully and in ways that promote social peace.