Shloka 20
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
प्रद्धिष्टस्य कुत: श्रेयो नाप्रियो लभते फलम् | वत्सौपम्येन दोग्धव्यं राष्ट्रमक्षीणबुद्धिना
praddhiṣṭasya kutaḥ śreyo nāpriyo labhate phalam | vatsaupamyena dogdhavyaṃ rāṣṭram akṣīṇabuddhinā ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «¿Cómo puede haber bienestar para quien es odiado por todos? El gobernante que no es querido por el pueblo no obtiene fruto verdadero. Por eso, un rey cuyo juicio no está nublado debe tomar su sustento del reino con suavidad y poco a poco—como el ternero toma la leche de la vaca—para que el país no sea dañado y se conserve el vínculo con los súbditos.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must remain प्रिय (dear) to the people and govern for their welfare; extracting wealth harshly breeds hatred and destroys prosperity. Revenue should be taken moderately and gradually, like a calf drawing milk—enough for sustenance without injuring the source.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on statecraft: an unpopular ruler cannot achieve śreyas, and prudent governance requires gentle, sustainable collection of resources from the realm.