By following the duty of protection only, o Bharata, the king acquires merit that is a hundred times greater than what is earned by hermits in their asylums in the forest.
वने चरन्ति ये धर्ममाश्रमेषु च भारत। रक्षणात् तच्छतगुणं धर्मं प्राप्नोति पार्थिवः॥