Shloka 15
दुर्ग-निवेश-राजधर्मः | Fortified Capital and the King’s Residential Polity
Rājadharma
आशयाश्रोदपानाश्च प्रभूतसलिलाकरा: | निरोद्धव्या: सदा राज्ञा क्षीरिणशक्षु महीरुहा:
āśayāś codapānāś ca prabhūtasalilākarāḥ | niroddhavyāḥ sadā rājñā kṣīriṇaś ca mahīruhāḥ ||
ভীষ্মে ক’লে— জলাশয় (পুখুৰী-তাল), উদপান (কুঁৱা-বাৱড়ি), প্ৰচুৰ পানীৰে ভৰা ডাঙৰ সৰোবৰ, আৰু দুধীয়া ৰসধাৰী গছ—এই সকলোকে ৰজাই সদায় ৰক্ষা কৰিব লাগে। ইয়াৰ সংৰক্ষণে প্ৰজাৰ মঙ্গল হয় আৰু ধৰ্মসম্মত ৰাজধৰ্ম স্থিৰ থাকে।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes protecting essential commons—water bodies (ponds, wells, large reservoirs) and life-sustaining trees—because they secure health, agriculture, and social stability; this is presented as an ongoing royal duty.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king that safeguarding water sources and sap-bearing trees is a constant responsibility of governance, emphasizing practical welfare as a component of righteousness.