Shloka 2
Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas
Kekaya Exemplum
युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--भरतकुलभूषण पितामह! किन-किन मनुष्योंके धनपर राजाका अधिकार होता है? तथा राजाको कैसा बर्ताव करना चाहिये? यह मुझे बताइये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | abrāhmaṇānāṃ vittasya svāmī rājeti vaidikam | brāhmaṇānāṃ ca ye kecid vikarmasthā bhavanty uta ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô roi, selon la doctrine védique, le roi est le maître légitime des richesses de tous ceux qui ne sont pas brāhmanes. Et même parmi les brāhmanes, ceux qui sont tombés dans le vikarma — une conduite contraire à leurs devoirs prescrits — relèvent de l’autorité du roi quant à leurs biens.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a principle of rājadharma: the king has overarching authority over the wealth of non-Brahmins, and even over Brahmins who abandon their prescribed duties and engage in vikarma. Authority is framed as conditional and tied to maintaining dharma and social order.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Yudhiṣṭhira asks Bhishma about the king’s rights over subjects’ wealth and proper royal conduct. Bhishma replies by citing a Vedic principle defining whose wealth falls under royal jurisdiction, emphasizing the king’s role as guardian of dharma.