Shloka 1736
Adhyāya 64: Dāna-prakāra—Suvarṇa, Pānīya-dāna, Ghṛta-dāna, and Upakaraṇa-dāna
Utility Gifts
पुत्रवच्चापि भृत्यान् स्वान् प्रजाश्न परिपालय । भरतनन्दन! तुम अपनी और दूसरोंकी भी जीविकाकी रक्षा करो तथा अपने सेवकों और प्रजाजनोंका पुत्रकी भाँति पालन करो
bhīṣma uvāca | putravat cāpi bhṛtyān svān prajāś ca paripālaya | bharatanandana! tvam ātmanaḥ pareṣāṃ ca jīvikāyāḥ rakṣāṃ kuru tathā svasevakān prajājanāṃś ca putrasya bhānti pālaya |
Bhishma said: “Protect your own dependents and your subjects, and also safeguard the means of livelihood—both yours and that of others. O joy of the Bharatas, nurture your servants and the people as you would your own children.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is welfare-oriented governance: to protect livelihoods and to care for servants and subjects with the same solicitude and responsibility shown toward one’s own children.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing the Bharata king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on rajadharma, emphasizing compassionate administration and the safeguarding of economic security for all dependents and citizens.