Shloka 18
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
तं शक््त्या वर्धमानश्न सर्वतः परिबृंहयेत् । नित्यं क्षताद् वारयति यो धर्मेष्वपि कर्मसु,और जब अपनी वृद्धि हो तो यथाशक्ति उसे भी सब ओरसे समृद्धिशाली बनावे। जो धर्मके कार्योमें भी राजाको सदा हानिसे बचानेका प्रयत्न करता है तथा उसकी हानिसे भयभीत हो उठता है, उसके इस स्वभावको ही उत्तम मित्रका लक्षण समझना चाहिये। जो राजाकी हानि और विनाशकी इच्छा रखते हैं, वे उसके शत्रु माने गये हैं
taṁ śaktyā vardhamānaś ca sarvataḥ paribṛṁhayet | nityaṁ kṣatād vārayati yo dharmeṣv api karmasu ||
Bhishma said: “As one’s own capacity and prosperity increase, one should, to the best of one’s ability, strengthen that person (the king) and promote his well-being on every side. He is the true friend who, even while engaged in works of dharma, constantly strives to protect the king from loss and feels anxious at the prospect of the king’s harm. Those who desire the king’s loss and destruction are to be regarded as his enemies.”
भीष्म उवाच