Shloka 30
Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order
Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue
सर्वधर्मपरं क्षात्र॑ं लोकश्रेष्ठं सनातनम् । शश्वदक्षरपर्यन्तमक्षरं सर्वतोमुखम्,इस प्रकार संसारमें क्षात्रधर्म ही सब धर्मोसे श्रेष्ठ सनातन, नित्य, अविनाशी, मोक्षतक पहुँचानेवाला सर्वतोमुखी है
sarvadharmaparaṁ kṣātraṁ lokaśreṣṭhaṁ sanātanam | śaśvad akṣara-paryantam akṣaraṁ sarvato-mukham |
因陀罗说道：“刹帝利之法（kṣātra-dharma）——武士君王的王道职责——凌驾于一切诸法之上：它是世间至高之法，且恒常不变。它必定引人趋向不坏者（解脱）；自身坚固，‘面向四方’，能护持并保全万有。”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates kṣātra-dharma—righteous rule, protection, and disciplined use of force—as a comprehensive social duty that sustains the world and, when practiced in alignment with dharma, can become a means leading toward the Imperishable (mokṣa).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and governance, Indra speaks as an authoritative voice, praising the ideal of kṣatriya duty: protecting society, upholding order, and acting with a universal responsibility (‘sarvato-mukha’), rather than for narrow self-interest.