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 ||
„Nachdem du das Volk auf dem Pfad des Dharma gegründet hast, soll es der Rechtschaffenheit gemäß leben. Selbst wenn dein Wohlstand bereits auf den Sohn übergegangen ist, soll man weiterhin im Wald leben und sich von Wildwuchs nähren—ein Leben bewahren, das von Zucht und Pflicht geformt ist, nicht von Besitz.“
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.