Shloka 62
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
कृते कर्मणि राजेन्द्र पूजयेद् धनसंचयै: । दानेन च यथार्हेण सान्त्वेन विविधेन च
kṛte karmaṇi rājendra pūjayed dhana-saṃcayaiḥ | dānena ca yathārheṇa sāntvena vividhena ca ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô roi, lorsqu’une entreprise désirée a été menée à bonne fin, il faut honorer ceux qui y ont prêté leur concours : en leur accordant d’abondantes richesses, en offrant des dons et des récompenses proportionnés au mérite et au rang de chacun, et en prodiguant maintes paroles douces, apaisantes et rassurantes. Ainsi, le souverain entretient la loyauté, la gratitude et l’ordre conforme au dharma après l’achèvement de l’œuvre.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should not forget collaborators after success: reward them materially (wealth and appropriate gifts) and emotionally/socially (kind, conciliatory words). Proper recognition sustains dharma, loyalty, and stable governance.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rāja-dharma. Here he gives practical counsel on how a king should treat those who helped accomplish an undertaking—by honoring and rewarding them suitably once the task is completed.