Shloka 1
Adhyāya 90 — Protection of Livelihoods, Brahmanical Subsistence Norms, and Royal Oversight (राष्ट्रवृत्ति-राष्ट्रगुप्ति-उपदेशः)
ऑपन- माल छा अपि्>-ऋा-ज एकोननवतितमो<ध्याय: राजाके कर्तव्यका वर्णन भीष्म उवाच वनस्पतीन् भक्ष्यफलात् न च्छिन्द़्ुर्विषये तव | ब्राह्मणानां मूलफल धर्म्यमाहुर्मनीषिण:
Bhīṣma uvāca: Vanaspatīn bhakṣya-phalāt na cchindyuḥ viṣaye tava | Brāhmaṇānāṁ mūla-phalaṁ dharmyam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||
قال بهيشما: «يا يودهيشثيرا، احرص في مملكتك على ألا يقطع أحدٌ الأشجارَ التي تُثمر ثمارًا تؤكل. فإن الحكماء يقولون إن الجذورَ والثمارَ موردٌ مشروعٌ مُقَرٌّ بالدارما للبراهمة؛ ولذلك لا ينبغي إسقاطُ تلك الأشجار.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma includes protecting life-supporting resources: fruit-bearing trees should not be cut, since their produce (roots and fruits) is regarded as a legitimate, dharma-approved means of sustenance—especially associated with Brahmin livelihood and ritual economy.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on practical governance. Here he gives a concrete rule for the realm: prohibit felling edible fruit trees, grounding the policy in dharma and the welfare of Brahmins and society.