Shloka 37
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
सान्त्वनं रक्षणं दानमवस्था चाप्यभीक्षणश: । गोमिनां पार्थ कर्तव्य: संविभाग: प्रियाणि च
sāntvanaṁ rakṣaṇaṁ dānam avasthā cāpy abhīkṣṇaśaḥ | gomināṁ pārtha kartavyaḥ saṁvibhāgaḥ priyāṇi ca ||
Bhīṣma said: “O Pārtha, toward those who possess cattle (the Vaiśya community), one should repeatedly extend reassurance, provide protection, give material support, and continually strive to keep their condition stable. One should also share necessities with them and consistently do what is pleasing to them.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes sustained care for the productive classes—especially cattle-owners/Vaiśyas—through reassurance, protection, financial support, stabilizing their livelihoods, fair distribution of necessities, and policies that keep them content and secure.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira (and addresses Arjuna here as ‘Pārtha’) on rājadharma. This verse is part of his guidance on how a king should maintain social and economic well-being by actively supporting and protecting key contributors to prosperity.