Shloka 33
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
धर्मारामान् धर्मपरान् ये न रक्षन्ति मानवान् । पार्थिवा: पुरुषव्याप्र तेषां पापं हरन्ति ते
dharmārāmān dharmaparān ye na rakṣanti mānavān | pārthivāḥ puruṣavyāghra teṣāṃ pāpaṃ haranti te ||
毗湿摩说道：“噢，人中之虎，那些不护持乐于法（dharma）、专志于正道之人的国王——那些以正义为乐、依正义而活的人——终将把他们的罪业揽到自己身上。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s primary dharma is protection. If a ruler neglects to protect righteous, dharma-abiding people, the moral blame for resulting harm and disorder accrues to the ruler; the king 'takes' their sin by failing his duty.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma teaches the principles of rajadharma to the king (traditionally Yudhiṣṭhira). Here he warns that failure to protect virtuous subjects is not neutral—it makes the ruler morally accountable for the wrongdoing that follows.