Shloka 17
अध्याय ७२ — राजधर्मः: प्रजारक्षण, कर-नीति, दण्ड-नीति, अमात्य-नियोजन
Chapter 72 — Royal Duty: protection of subjects, taxation, punishment, and appointments
यो हि दोग्ध्रीमुपास्ते च स नित्यं विन्दते पय: । एवं राष्ट्रमुपायेन भुज्जानो लभते फलम्
yo hi dogdhrīm upāste ca sa nityaṁ vindate payaḥ | evaṁ rāṣṭram upāyena bhuñjāno labhate phalam ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Nur wer die milchgebende Kuh täglich pflegt und ihr dient, erhält Tag für Tag Milch. Ebenso genießt nur der König die Früchte des Reiches, der es mit rechten Mitteln schützt und verwaltet.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Benefit follows responsible care: just as milk comes only to one who tends the milch cow, the prosperity and revenues of a kingdom rightly belong only to the ruler who protects and manages it through proper, dharmic means.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira using a homely analogy: legitimate enjoyment of royal ‘fruits’ depends on sustained service—protection, administration, and prudent policy—toward the realm.