Shloka 18
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
प्रभुर्नियमने राजा य एतान् न नियच्छति । भुड्धक्ते स तस्य पापस्य चतुर्भागमिति श्रुति:
bhīṣma uvāca | prabhur niyamane rājā ya etān na niyacchati | bhunakte sa tasya pāpasya caturbhāgam iti śrutiḥ ||
Bhishma said: A king who has the power and authority to restrain these (wrongdoers) but does not keep them under control, is said in the sacred tradition to partake of one-fourth of the sin they commit. The teaching underscores royal responsibility: negligence in governance becomes moral complicity.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler is ethically accountable for preventable wrongdoing within his realm: if he has the capacity to restrain offenders but fails to do so, he incurs a share (one-fourth) of their sin, as affirmed by śruti.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma teaches the kingly duty of regulation and punishment: governance is not merely power but responsibility, and negligence in enforcing restraint makes the king a participant in the moral consequences.