Shloka 36
Adhyāya 64: Dāna-prakāra—Suvarṇa, Pānīya-dāna, Ghṛta-dāna, and Upakaraṇa-dāna
Utility Gifts
शुभं वा यच्च कुर्वन्ति प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिता: | चतुर्थ तस्य पुण्यस्य राजा चाप्रोति भारत
śubhaṃ vā yac ca kurvanti prajā rājñā surakṣitāḥ | caturthaṃ tasya puṇyasya rājā cāpnōti bhārata ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: “¡Oh Bhārata! Cuando el rey protege bien a sus súbditos, cualesquiera actos auspiciosos que el pueblo realice, el rey también recibe la cuarta parte de ese mérito.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king who truly protects his subjects becomes morally connected to their welfare: the people’s capacity to perform good deeds arises under secure governance, so the ruler earns a quarter share of the resulting merit.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of rājadharma (the duties of kings). Here he explains how effective protection of the realm yields ethical reward for the king through the virtuous actions of the protected populace.