Shloka 16
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
यान॑ वस्त्रमलड्कारान् रत्नानि विविधानि च । हरेयु: सहसा पापा यदि राजा न पालयेत्,यदि राजा प्रजाका पालन न करे तो पापाचारी लुटेरे सहसा आक्रमण करके वाहन, वस्त्र, आभूषण और नाना प्रकारके रत्न लूट ले जायेँ
yānāni vastram alaṅkārān ratnāni vividhāni ca | hareyuḥ sahasā pāpā yadi rājā na pālayet ||
瓦苏摩那说道：“若国王不护民，恶人便会骤然来袭，夺走车乘、衣服、饰物，以及种种珍贵宝石。”
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is that the ruler’s dharma is protection: when the king fails to safeguard society, adharma rises in the form of violent theft and plunder, harming property and public trust.
Vasumanā is explaining a consequence of negligent kingship: in the absence of royal protection, criminals attack suddenly and loot people’s conveyances, clothing, ornaments, and precious goods—illustrating why governance and security are essential to social order.