Shloka 18
Vyavahāra-Śuddhi and Rājadharma: Clean Administration, Counsel, and Proportional Punishment
Chapter 86
बलात्कृतानां बलिभि: कृपणं बहु जल्पताम् | नाथो वै भूमिपो नित्यमनाथानां नृणां भवेत्
balātkṛtānāṁ balibhiḥ kṛpaṇaṁ bahu jalpatām | nātho vai bhūmipo nityam anāthānāṁ nṛṇāṁ bhavet ||
毗湿摩说道：“被强者所害之人，必凄然哀号，诉说不尽。故国王当恒为真正的护佑者——作无依之人的归依。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches rajadharma: a king’s constant duty is to serve as a reliable refuge for the unprotected, restraining the strong from coercing the weak and preventing society from descending into helpless lamentation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and ethics, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on the responsibilities of kingship, emphasizing that the ruler must actively protect those who lack power or patrons.