Shloka 1

Kośa-saṃjanana and Subtle Dharma

Treasury Formation and Fine-Grained Ethics

Devanagari script

#द5>2/5-> (9) शीला - यथा--ुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः । उत्पथं प्रतिपन्नस्य कार्य भवति शासनम्‌ || अर्थात्‌ घमंडमें आकर कर्तव्य और अकर्तव्यका विचार न करते हुए कुमार्गपर चलनेवाले गुरुको भी दण्ड देना आवश्यक है। त्रयस्त्रिशर्दाधिकशततमोब& ध्याय: राजाके लिये कोशसंग्रहकी आवश्यकता

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | svarāṣṭrāt pararāṣṭrāc ca kośaṃ saṃjanayen nṛpaḥ | kośād dhi dharmaḥ kaunteya rājyamūlaṃ ca vardhate ||

Translation

Bhishma dit : «Ô fils de Kuntī, un roi doit accroître son trésor par des revenus tirés de son propre royaume et aussi du royaume ennemi. Car c’est du trésor que le dharma est soutenu et étendu, et que les fondations mêmes du royaume deviennent fermes et solides.»

Word by Word

• स्वराष्ट्रात्: from (one's) own kingdom
• स्वराष्ट्रात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-राष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• परराष्ट्रात्: from another/enemy kingdom
• परराष्ट्रात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-राष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कोशम्: treasury; store of wealth
• कोशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• संजनेयत्: should generate/accumulate
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + जन्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कोशात्: from the treasury; by means of treasury (as source)
• कोशात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• धर्मः: dharma; righteous order
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कौन्तेय: O son of Kunti
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौन्तेय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• राज्यमूलम्: the root/foundation of the kingdom
• राज्यमूलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य-मूल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वर्धते: grows; increases
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Kaunteya (Yudhishthira)
• nṛpa (the king)
• kośa (treasury)
• svarāṣṭra (own kingdom)
• pararāṣṭra (enemy/other kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that a stable treasury (kośa) is essential for sustaining dharma and strengthening the kingdom; ethical governance requires material resources to enforce order, protect subjects, and uphold lawful duties.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance: the king must secure revenues—both from his own realm and through victory over enemies—so that the state’s foundations and righteous administration can endure.