Shloka 71
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
जिन वस्तुओंको त्रिवर्गके अन्तर्गत बताया गया है, उनको भी यहाँ एकचित्त होकर सुनो। क्षय, स्थान और वृद्धि--ये ही त्रिवर्ग हैं तथा धर्म, अर्थ और काम--इनको परम त्रिवर्ग कहा गया है। इन सबका समयानुसार सेवन करना चाहिये। राजा धर्मके अनुसार चले तो वह पृथ्वीका दीर्घकालतक पालन कर सकता है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
trivargāntargatā ye 'rthā uktāḥ, tān apihaikacitto niśāmaya |
kṣayaḥ sthānaṁ ca vṛddhiś ca—eṣa eva trivargaḥ; dharmo 'rthaḥ kāmaś ca—ete paramas trivargaḥ |
teṣāṁ sarveṣāṁ kālena sevanaṁ kartavyam |
rājā dharmānusārī syāt, sa pṛthivīṁ dīrghakālaṁ pālayituṁ śaknoti ||
asminn arthe ca ślokau dvau gītau bṛhaspatinā svayam |
yādavīputra, bhadraṁ te; tāv api śrotum arhasi, pṛthāputra yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhishma said: “Listen with a focused mind even to those matters that are described as belonging to the threefold human aims. Decline, stability, and increase—these are one triad; and dharma, material welfare (artha), and desire (kāma)—these are called the supreme triad. All of these should be pursued in accordance with the proper time and circumstance. If a king conducts himself in harmony with dharma, he is able to protect the earth for a long time. On this very point, O son of Pritha, Yudhishthira—may you be well—hear also two verses spoken directly by Brihaspati himself.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a ruler must understand and regulate the triads of life—especially dharma, artha, and kāma—by pursuing each at the proper time. Governance grounded in dharma enables long and stable protection of the realm.
In the Shanti Parva dialogue on kingship and ethics, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira. He introduces a framework of triads and then signals that he will support the point by quoting two authoritative verses attributed to Brihaspati.