Shloka 24
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
धान्यस्य दशमं भागं दास्याम: कोशवर्धनम् | कन्यां शुल्के चारुरूपां विवाहेषूद्यतासु च
dhānyasya daśamaṁ bhāgaṁ dāsyāmaḥ kośavardhanam | kanyāṁ śulke cārurūpāṁ vivāheṣūdyatāsu ca ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Nous donnerons le dixième du grain comme contribution qui accroît le trésor ; et, lors des mariages, quand les familles se prépareront aux noces, nous offrirons aussi une jeune fille de belle apparence comme śulka (prix nuptial).»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That a kingdom’s stability depends on orderly, rule-bound economic measures (like a fixed share of produce) and on maintaining social institutions (like marriage) through recognized customs—both ideally governed by dharma rather than arbitrariness.
Bhīṣma is describing practical arrangements connected with governance and social regulation: allocating a tenth of grain to strengthen the treasury and referencing marriage-related payments involving a maiden and śulka when weddings are being arranged.