Shloka 12
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
न पूर्णोडस्मीति मन्येत धर्मत: कामतो<र्थत: । बुद्धितो मित्रतश्नापि सततं वसुधाधिप:
na pūrṇo ’smi iti manyeta dharmataḥ kāmato ’rthataḥ | buddhito mitrataś cāpi satataṃ vasudhādhipaḥ ||
瓦摩提婆说道：“国王，地之主宰，切莫自念：‘我已圆满。’纵使具足法（dharma）、利（artha）、欲（kāma）、明断之智与忠诚之友，亦当常怀警醒，不断努力，使这些治国之所凭更为坚固、日益增长。因为君位上的自满，正是衰败之门。”
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should avoid complacency. Even when established in dharma, prosperity (artha), legitimate enjoyment (kāma), good judgment (buddhi), and strong alliances (mitra), he must keep cultivating and safeguarding these foundations, because kingship requires continuous effort and vigilance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on royal duty (rājadharma), the sage Vāmadeva addresses the ideal conduct of a king, emphasizing that a sovereign should not become self-satisfied but should constantly work to strengthen righteousness, resources, wise counsel, and alliances.