Shloka 27
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
न लभेद् धर्मसंश्लेषं हतविप्रहतो जन: । हर्ता स्वस्थेन्द्रियो गच्छेद् यदि राजा न पालयेत्
na labhed dharma-saṁśleṣaṁ hata-viprahato janaḥ | hartā svasthendriyo gacched yadi rājā na pālayet ||
瓦苏摩那说：“若国王不加护佑（百姓与国土），人们遭击而困苦，便会断绝与达摩的一切联系；而盗贼夺取他人财物后，身与诸根毫发无损，竟能安然离去。”
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the ruler’s primary duty is protection and enforcement of order; without royal protection, people lose faith and adherence to dharma, while wrongdoing becomes safe and profitable—undermining moral and social stability.
In the Shanti Parva’s discussion of राजधर्म (the duties of kings), Vasumanā argues that if a king fails to govern and protect, society collapses: the afflicted populace abandons dharma and thieves can steal and return unharmed.