Shloka 14
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
पापा हाूपि तदा क्षेम॑ न लभन्ते कदाचन । एकस्य हि द्वौ हरतो द्वयोशक्ष॒ बहवो5परे
pāpā hy api tadā kṣemaṁ na labhante kadācana | ekasya hi dvau harato dvayoḥ śakṣa bahavo 'pare ||
Bhīṣma sprach: In jener Zeit erlangen selbst die Bösen weder Sicherheit noch Wohlergehen. Denn wenn zwei einen ausplündern, schließen sich auch andere an—tüchtig und auf Gelegenheit bedacht; so vermehrt sich das Unrecht und die Sicherheit schwindet.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wrongdoing is self-defeating: when theft and exploitation begin, they attract further opportunists, causing disorder in which even the wicked cannot enjoy lasting safety or welfare (kṣema).
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and governance; here he warns that once predation starts—two robbing one—others quickly join, escalating lawlessness and destroying social security.