Shloka 14
दुर्ग-निवेश-राजधर्मः | Fortified Capital and the King’s Residential Polity
Rājadharma
शणं सर्जरसं धान्यमायुधानि शरांस्तथा । चर्म स्नायुं तथा वेत्रं मुजजबल्वजबन्धनान्
bhīṣma uvāca | śaṇaṁ sarjarasaṁ dhānyam āyudhāni śarāṁs tathā | carma snāyuṁ tathā vetraṁ muñjabalvajabandhanān ||
Bhishma sprach: „Er halte einen wohlgefüllten Vorrat an unentbehrlichen Materialien bereit—Flachs und Harz; Korn und Vorräte; Waffen und Pfeile; Leder, Sehnen und Rohr; sowie Stricke aus muñja- und balvaja-Gras. Solche Vorsorge trägt Ordnung und Schutz, damit man Pflichten ohne Panik und ohne Unrecht erfüllen kann, wenn Gefahr oder Not entsteht.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that responsible leadership and household/state management require foresight: maintaining stores of provisions, materials, and defensive equipment so that one can fulfill protective duties (dharma) steadily, without resorting to unjust measures in times of crisis.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, Bhishma enumerates practical items to be kept in reserve—fibres, resin, grain, weapons, and binding materials—framing preparedness as part of righteous administration and protection.