Shloka 17
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
अबलं वै बलाच्छेयो यच्चातिबलवद्धलम् । बलस्याबलदग्धस्य न किंचिदवशिष्यते
abalaṃ vai balāc chreyo yac cātibalavad dhalaṃ | balasyābaladagdhasya na kiṃcid avaśiṣyate ||
优陀提耶说道：“弱者实则胜于强者；因为即便极其强大的，也能被那从表面弱势中生出的力量所制服。强者若被弱者‘焚烧’，其强盛便无一存留。”
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Physical might is not the final measure of superiority. The ‘weak’—through humility, patience, self-control, or intelligent strategy—can neutralize and even destroy the advantage of the ‘strong,’ especially when the strong relies on pride and coercion.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Utathya delivers a pointed maxim: do not dismiss the powerless, because the dynamics of dharma, prudence, and inner strength can overturn brute force, leaving the proud strong with nothing.