Shloka 34

राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्

Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable

Devanagari script

यदा रक्षति राष्ट्राणि यदा दस्यूनपोहति । यदा जयति संग्रामे स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते

Transliteration

yadā rakṣati rāṣṭrāṇi yadā dasyūn apohati | yadā jayati saṅgrāme sa rājño dharma ucyate ||

Translation

优陀提耶说道：“当国王守护其邦国，驱逐盗贼与掠夺者，并在战阵中取胜时，这些行为便被宣称为国王之法（dharma）。”

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• रक्षति: protects
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• राष्ट्राणि: kingdoms/realms
• राष्ट्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• दस्यून्: bandits/robbers
• दस्यून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दस्यु
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• अपोहति: drives away/removes
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + ऊह्
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• जयति: conquers/wins
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• सः: that/he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• धर्मः: duty/righteous conduct
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• उच्यते: is said/is called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 3, singular, Atmanepada (passive)

Speaker

उतथ्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Utathya
• king (rājā)
• realms/kingdoms (rāṣṭra)
• bandits/robbers (dasyu)
• battle/war (saṅgrāma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines rājadharma in practical terms: a king’s righteousness is shown by protecting the realm, suppressing criminal violence, and successfully defending the polity in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Utathya is explaining what counts as the king’s proper duty—public protection, removal of banditry, and victory in battle as part of maintaining order.