Shloka 26
आपद्धर्मे कोशबलन्यायः | Treasury, Force, and Crisis-Ethics for the King
अपृच्छंश्वैव तं तत्र राजानमपराजितम् । प्रयोजनमिदं सर्वमाश्रमस्य निवेशने,उन सबने वहाँ उन अपराजित नरेशसे उस आश्रमपर पधारनेका सारा प्रयोजन पूछा
apṛcchaṃś caiva taṃ tatra rājānam aparājitam | prayojanam idaṃ sarvam āśramasya niveśane ||
Dijo Bhishma: Allí interrogaron a aquel rey inconquistable acerca del propósito entero de fundar y establecer aquella ermita—deseosos de comprender la intención y el fin dhármico de su llegada y residencia.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic principle: actions—especially those involving renunciation, residence in an āśrama, or public conduct by a ruler—should be examined by their prayojana (purpose). Ethical evaluation begins with clarifying intention and the larger aim.
In Bhīṣma’s narration, a group present at the hermitage questions an undefeated king, asking why he has come and what objective lies behind establishing or settling that āśrama.