Shloka 2
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
भीष्य उवाच यथादेशं यथाकालं यथाबुद्धि यथाबलम् । अनुशिष्यात् प्रजा राजा धर्मार्थी तद्धिते रत:
bhīṣma uvāca | yathādeśaṃ yathākālaṃ yathābuddhi yathābalam | anuśiṣyāt prajā rājā dharmārthī taddhite rataḥ ||
Bhishma said: “A king who seeks dharma should govern and discipline his subjects with constant concern for their welfare—acting in accordance with the place and its conditions, the demands of time, and in proportion to his own understanding and strength.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is not rigid rule for its own sake, but welfare-oriented governance: the king should discipline and guide the people while adapting to place, time, and his own capacity, keeping the subjects’ benefit as the guiding aim.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising the king (Yudhishthira in context) on how a righteous ruler should administer society—by prudent, context-sensitive governance devoted to the people’s good.