Shloka 21
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
न चाददीत वित्तानि सतां हस्तात् कदाचन । असदभ्यश्न॒ समादद्यात् सद्भधयस्तु प्रतिपादयेत्,साधुपुरुषोंके हाथसे कभी धन न छीने। असाधु पुरुषोंसे दण्डके रूपमें धन लेना चाहिये; साधु पुरुषोंको तो धन देना चाहिये
na cādadīta vittāni satāṁ hastāt kadācana | asadbhyaś ca samādad yāt sadbhyaḥ tu pratipādayet ||
Bhishma said: One should never seize wealth from the hands of the virtuous. From the wicked, however, one may take wealth as a punitive exaction; but to the virtuous, one should rather give—supporting them instead of harming them. The ethical point is that punishment and coercive taking are meant for restraining wrongdoing, not for exploiting the good.
भीष्म उवाच