Shloka 28
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
यत्र पापा ज्ञायमानाक्षरन्ति सतां कलिववंन्दते तत्र राज्ञ: । यदा राजा शास्ति नरानशिष्टां- स्तदा राज्यं वर्धते भूमिपस्य
utathya uvāca |
yatra pāpā jñāyamānāś caranti satāṁ kali-varṇaṁ dṛśyate tatra rājñaḥ |
yadā rājā śāsti narān aśiṣṭāṁs tadā rājyaṁ vardhate bhūmipasya ||
乌塔提耶说道：“在那样的地方，罪人虽明明可辨，却仍公然无惧地往来行走，贤者便知那里的国王已被迦梨之气（道德衰败）所围困。然而当国王惩戒并处罚悖逆与邪恶之徒时，这位大地之主的国土便会四方兴盛、日益昌隆。”
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s legitimacy and the health of his realm are measured by the protection of dharma: if known wrongdoers act fearlessly, it signals moral collapse (Kali’s ascendancy) and failure of governance; firm, just discipline of the unruly enables the kingdom to flourish.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, the sage Utathya advises about signs of good and bad rule: unchecked public wrongdoing indicates the king is overpowered by Kali, whereas active punishment of the wicked leads to the growth and stability of the state.