Shloka 21
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
न योनिदोषो वर्तेत न कृषिर्न वणिक्पथ: । मज्जेद् धर्मस्त्रयी न स्याद् यदि राजा न पालयेत्
na yonidoṣo varteta na kṛṣir na vaṇikpathaḥ | majjed dharmas trayī na syād yadi rājā na pālayet ||
瓦苏玛那说道：“若国王不护民，则人们对淫乱不再生厌；农耕不能存续；商旅之路将崩坏；达摩将沉没；三部吠陀亦不复存在——连其踪影都将消失。”
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that effective royal protection (pālana) is foundational for ethical restraint, economic stability (farming and trade), and the survival of dharma and Vedic learning. Without governance, both moral norms and material livelihoods deteriorate, and sacred tradition loses its footing.
In the Śānti Parva’s discussion of rājadharma (the duties of kings), Vasumanā argues for the necessity of kingship and enforcement: the king’s protective role prevents social and moral breakdown and sustains the institutions—economic and religious—that uphold civilization.