Shloka 1
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
/ ऑपनआक्रात बछ। अकाल ३. जो आपत्तियाँ स्वतः अपने ही करतूतोंसे आती हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | eṣā prathamato vṛttir dvitīyāṃ śṛṇu bhārata | yaḥ kaścid janayed arthaṃ rājñā rakṣyaḥ sadā naraḥ ||
भीष्म बोले—हे भरतनन्दन! यह राज्यनीति की पहली वृत्ति है; अब दूसरी सुनो। जो कोई भी पुरुष राजा के धन और संसाधनों की वृद्धि करे, उसकी रक्षा राजा को सदा करनी चाहिए।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s duty includes safeguarding those who increase the kingdom’s wealth and resources; productive contributors to the state are to be consistently protected as part of sound rājadharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira, marking a transition from a ‘first principle’ to a ‘second principle’ of royal conduct, emphasizing protection of those who generate revenue and prosperity for the king.