Shloka 26
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
महान् वृक्षो जायते वर्धते च त॑ चैव भूतानि समाश्रयन्ति । यदा वक्षश्छिद्यते दहाते च तदाश्रया अनिकेता भवन्ति
mahān vṛkṣo jāyate vardhate ca taṃ caiva bhūtāni samāśrayanti | yadā vṛkṣaś chidyate dahyate ca tadāśrayā aniketā bhavanti ||
乌塔提耶说道：“当一棵大树生长起来，渐次繁茂，众多生灵前来依栖其上；然而当此树被砍伐或焚烧，凡倚赖它的都将无所归依。同样地，当维系一方群体的支柱被毁，那些仰赖它的人便失去庇护。”
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A powerful support—like a great tree—creates refuge for many; destroying that support makes dependents shelterless. Ethically, one should protect sustaining institutions and caregivers (especially rulers and householders), mindful of the harm caused to those who rely on them.
Utathya illustrates his counsel with a vivid analogy: creatures gather in a flourishing tree for safety, but when it is cut or burned they lose their home. He uses this image to warn about the social fallout when a central protector or support is removed.