Shloka 27
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
दातारं संविभक्तारं मार्दवोपगतं शुचिम् | असंत्यक्तमनुष्यं च तं जना: कुर्वते नृपम्
dātāraṃ saṃvibhaktāraṃ mārdavopagataṃ śucim | asaṃtyaktamanuṣyaṃ ca taṃ janāḥ kurvate nṛpam ||
众人推举为王的，是那位慷慨施与、能以正当而公平的分配将必需之物遍及众人、性情温和、行止与心念皆清净、且不弃其民者。此等德行，而非徒有权势，被揭示为正当王权的伦理根基。
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate kingship rests on ethical qualities: generosity, fair distribution of resources, gentleness, purity of conduct, and steadfast care for one’s people. A ruler is ‘made’ by public recognition of these virtues, not merely by force or birth.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Vāmadeva states the criteria by which people accept someone as king: he must give, distribute justly, be mild and pure, and never abandon his subjects.