Shloka 21
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
न हि वैक्लव्यसंसृष्टमानृशंस्यमिहास्थित: । प्रजापालनसम्भूतमाप्ता धर्मफलं हासि,इस प्रकार व्याकुलताजनित कोमलताका आश्रय लेकर तुम यहाँ प्रजापालनसे सुलभ होनेवाले धर्मके फलको नहीं पा सकोगे
na hi vaiklavyasaṁsṛṣṭam ānṛśaṁsyam ihāsthitaḥ | prajā-pālana-sambhūtam āptā dharma-phalaṁ hāsi ||
毗湿摩说道：“若你仍在此处，依凭那由惊惶与无助所生的软弱之心，你便不能获得由护民治众而生的法果。君王之正法，不在摇摆的慈悲中得以成就，而在守护百姓时坚定不移的担当之中。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not let helpless agitation masquerade as compassion; the true fruit of dharma for a king comes from steadfast protection and governance of the people (prajā-pālana).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and ethics, Bhishma admonishes the listener that remaining inactive out of emotional weakness will forfeit the righteous merit that is earned through responsible rule and protection of subjects.