Shloka 13
Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas
Kekaya Exemplum
न याचन्ते प्रयच्छन्ति सत्यधर्मविशारदा: । नाध्यापयन्त्यधीयन्ते यजन्ते याजयन्ति न
na yācante prayacchanti satyadharmaviśāradāḥ | nādhyāpayanty adhīyante yajante yājayanti na |
Bhīṣma dit : «Ils ne mendient pas ; au contraire, ils donnent—habiles dans la vérité et dans la pratique du dharma. Ils n’enseignent pas le Veda, mais ils l’étudient ; ils accomplissent les sacrifices, mais n’officient pas pour autrui. Dans mon royaume, les kṣatriya demeurent attachés aux devoirs propres à leur ordre : ils font des dons sans en recevoir, et, sans qu’on les sollicite, ils accordent aux demandeurs ce qu’ils désirent. Ils protègent les brāhmaṇa et ne tournent jamais le dos au combat. Et pourtant—comment es-tu entré au-dedans de mon corps ?»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse outlines varṇa-appropriate conduct for kṣatriyas: they uphold truth and dharma, study the Veda without taking up the brāhmaṇa’s role of teaching, perform sacrifices without acting as priests for others, give generously without begging or accepting gifts, protect brāhmaṇas, and show courage in battle. Ethical kingship is framed as disciplined role-based duty and public-spirited generosity.
Bhīṣma speaks while reflecting on the moral strength of his realm’s kṣatriyas. He lists their virtues and proper conduct, then expresses astonishment that despite such protection and righteousness, some harmful presence or affliction has nevertheless entered his own body—posing a rhetorical challenge that sets up further explanation in the surrounding passage.