Shloka 13
Kośa-saṃjanana and Subtle Dharma
Treasury Formation and Fine-Grained Ethics
स्थापयेदेव मर्यादां जनचित्तप्रसादिनीम् । अल्पे>प्यर्थे च मर्यादा लोके भवति पूजिता
sthāpayet eva maryādāṃ janacitta-prasādinīm | alpe 'py arthe ca maryādā loke bhavati pūjitā ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Un roi doit établir la maryādā : des limites et des règles de conduite justes, qui apaisent et contentent l’esprit du peuple. Dans le monde, même dans les plus petites choses, c’est la bienséance et l’ordre dû (maryādā) qui sont honorés.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is that legitimate rule depends on establishing maryādā—clear, fair, and socially accepted standards of conduct that steady and please the public mind; even minor affairs gain dignity when handled within proper limits and procedure.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king (Yudhiṣṭhira in context) on principles of governance, emphasizing that orderly norms and propriety are respected by society and are essential to stable rule.