Shloka 14
अध्याय ७२ — राजधर्मः: प्रजारक्षण, कर-नीति, दण्ड-नीति, अमात्य-नियोजन
Chapter 72 — Royal Duty: protection of subjects, taxation, punishment, and appointments
अपशास्त्रपरो राजा धर्मार्थान्नाधिगच्छति । अस्थाने चास्य तद् वित्त सर्वमेव विनश्यति
apāśāstraparo rājā dharmārthān nādhigacchati | asthāne cāsya tad vittaṁ sarvam eva vinaśyati ||
Bhīṣma said: “A king who is devoted to what is unśāstric—who acts contrary to sound teaching and disciplined counsel—fails to attain either dharma or artha. Even if wealth comes to him, it is squandered in improper places and perishes entirely.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be guided by śāstra (right teaching, disciplined counsel, and ethical norms). If he follows unśāstric ways, he fails in both dharma (moral legitimacy) and artha (stable prosperity). Even acquired wealth is wasted and ultimately ruined when spent in improper ways.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma (the duties and conduct of kings). Here he warns that a king who rejects proper guidance cannot secure righteous order or lasting prosperity, and that misdirected wealth collapses through misuse.