Shloka 24
दुर्ग-निवेश-राजधर्मः | Fortified Capital and the King’s Residential Polity
Rājadharma
कृपणानाथवृद्धानां विधवानां च योषिताम् | योगक्षेमं च वृत्ति च नित्यमेव प्रकल्पयेत्,दीन, अनाथ, वृद्ध तथा विधवा स्त्रियोंके योगक्षेम एवं जीविकाका सदा ही प्रबन्ध करे
kṛpaṇānātha-vṛddhānāṃ vidhavānāṃ ca yoṣitām | yoga-kṣemaṃ ca vṛttiṃ ca nityam eva prakalpayet ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Man soll stets für «yogakṣema»—Wohlergehen und Sicherheit—sowie für die Mittel zum Lebensunterhalt der Bedürftigen, Schutzlosen, Alten und verwitweten Frauen sorgen und ihre Versorgung und ihren Schutz als fortwährende Pflicht gewährleisten.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a ruler or responsible person must continuously ensure both protection (yoga-kṣema) and livelihood (vṛtti) for vulnerable groups—especially the destitute, the unprotected, the elderly, and widowed women—treating social care as an ongoing dharmic obligation.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on rajadharma and ethical governance after the war. Here he emphasizes state and societal responsibility toward those lacking support, framing welfare provision as a key element of righteous rule.