Shloka 58
विसर्गो<र्थस्य धर्मार्थ कामहैतुकमुच्यते । चतुर्थ व्यसनाघाते तथैवात्रानुवर्णितम्,भाँति-भाँतिकी दुश्चेष्ठा, अपने सेवकोंकी जीविकाका विचार, सबके प्रति सशडक रहना, प्रमादका परित्याग करना, अप्राप्त वस्तुको प्राप्त करना, प्राप्त हुई वस्तुको सुरक्षित रखते हुए उसे बढ़ाना और बढ़ी हुई वस्तुका सुपात्रोंको विधिपूर्वक दान देना--यह धनका पहला उपयोग है। धर्मके लिये धनका त्याग उसका दूसरा उपयोग है, कामभोगके लिये उसका व्यय करना तीसरा और संकट-निवारणके लिये उसे खर्च करना उसका चौथा उपयोग है। इन सब बातोंका उस ग्रन्थमें भलीभाँति वर्णन किया गया है
bhīṣma uvāca | visargo 'rthasya dharmārtha-kāma-haitukam ucyate | caturthaṁ vyasanāghāte tathaivātrānubarṇitam |
Bhishma said: “The proper disbursement of wealth is declared to have three aims—dharma (righteous duty), artha (practical welfare), and kāma (legitimate enjoyment). A fourth use is also described: spending in order to ward off calamity. Thus, wealth is to be employed first in sustaining and strengthening one’s means of livelihood and dependents, in vigilant and disciplined conduct, in gaining what is not yet obtained, in protecting and increasing what has been obtained, and in giving the increased wealth, according to rule, to worthy recipients. Next, relinquishing wealth for dharma is its second use; spending it for enjoyment is the third; and expending it to remove distress in times of danger is the fourth.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth should be applied purposefully: (1) to secure and grow one’s livelihood and responsibilities, including disciplined vigilance and proper giving; (2) to be sacrificed for dharma; (3) to be spent for legitimate enjoyment; and (4) to be used to avert or remedy calamity. Ethical stewardship, not mere accumulation, is the standard.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and right conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of artha-śāstra-like prudence—how a ruler/householder should deploy wealth across duty, welfare, enjoyment, and emergency relief.