Shloka 15
Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas
Kekaya Exemplum
कृषिगोरक्षवाणिज्यमुपजीवन्त्यमायया । अप्रमत्ता: क्रियावन्त: सुव्रता: सत्यवादिन:
bhīṣma uvāca | kṛṣi-gorakṣa-vāṇijyam upajīvanti amāyayā | apramattāḥ kriyāvantaḥ suvratāḥ satyavādinaḥ |
قال بيشما: «في مملكتي يكتسب الويشيا معاشهم بلا خداع، بالزراعة وحماية الأبقار والتجارة. هم يقظون غير غافلين، مواظبون على أعمالهم الواجبة، ملتزمون بنذورٍ فاضلة، صادقون في القول. ومع ذلك—كيف وجدتَ سبيلاً للدخول إليّ؟»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights Vaiśya-dharma as honest livelihood—farming, cattle-care, and trade—performed with vigilance, disciplined conduct, and truthfulness. Ethical economic life (without fraud) is presented as a pillar of social and royal well-being.
Bhīṣma, while instructing on governance and social duties in the Śānti Parva, describes the exemplary conduct of the Vaiśyas in his kingdom. The closing rhetorical question (“how have you entered into me?”) conveys surprise that some inner fault or corruption could arise despite such outwardly righteous social order.