Shloka 8
Durgātitaraṇa—Conduct for Crossing Difficulties (दुर्गातितरणम्)
ये न लोभान्नयन्त्यर्थान् राजानो रजसान्विता: । विषयान् परिरक्षन्ति दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते
ye na lobhān nayanty arthān rājāno rajasānvitāḥ | viṣayān parirakṣanti durgāṇy atitaranti te ||
Bhishma dit : Les rois qui, bien que sous l’influence de la qualité de rajas, ne laissent pas l’avidité les pousser à s’emparer des richesses, et qui protègent leur royaume et ses ressources de tous côtés—de tels souverains franchissent même les épreuves redoutables et les périls qui semblent impraticables.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler may possess rajas (drive and ambition), but must not be ruled by lobha (greed). Ethical restraint in revenue and property, combined with vigilant protection of the kingdom, enables a king to overcome even severe crises.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about the qualities of good governance, praising kings who avoid greedy expropriation and who actively safeguard their territories and resources.