Shloka 15
Bṛhaspati’s Counsel on Contentment
Santoṣa), Restraint, and Adroha (Non-injury
धर्मवर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मत:ः । पुत्रसंक्रामितश्री श्व वने वन्येन वर्तयन्
dharmavartmani saṁsthāpya prajā varteta dharmataḥ | putrasaṅkrāmitśrīḥ śva vane vanyena vartayan ||
«إذا أقمتَ الرعيّة على طريق الدَّرما، فليحيَوا وفق الاستقامة. وحتى إن انتقلت نعمتك وبهجتك إلى ابنك، فامضِ في السكنى في الغابة، مقتاتًا بما تُخرجه البرّية—محافظًا على حياةٍ تصوغها الانضباط والواجب، لا التملّك.»
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or elder) should first anchor society in dharma; then, even after transferring wealth and authority to the next generation, one should uphold a disciplined, non-possessive life—symbolized by living in the forest on simple, wild sustenance.
Devastāna articulates a normative instruction about righteous governance and life-stages: establish the subjects in dharma, and after handing over prosperity to one’s son, continue a restrained forest-based mode of living, emphasizing duty over enjoyment.