Shloka 7
Kośa-saṃjanana and Subtle Dharma
Treasury Formation and Fine-Grained Ethics
श्रियो हि कारणाद् राजा सत्क्रियां लभते पराम् | सास्य गूहति पापानि वासो गुह्यूमिव स्त्रिया:,लक्ष्मीके कारण ही राजा सर्वत्र बड़ा भारी आदर-सत्कार पाता है। जैसे कपड़ा नारीके गुप्त अंगोंको छिपाये रखता है, उसी प्रकार लक्ष्मी राजाके सारे दोषोंको ढक लेती है
śriyo hi kāraṇād rājā satkriyāṁ labhate parām | sāsyā gūhati pāpāni vāso guhyaṁ iva striyāḥ ||
Karena Sri (Lakshmi)—kemakmuran—seorang raja memperoleh penghormatan dan pelayanan tertinggi di mana-mana. Kemakmuran itu pula menutupi dosa dan cela dirinya, sebagaimana kain menutupi bagian-bagian tersembunyi seorang perempuan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prosperity and royal fortune often generate public honor for a king and can conceal his moral failings; therefore, respect shown to rulers may reflect wealth and power more than genuine virtue, and one should judge by dharma rather than outward splendor.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira by observing how Śrī (royal prosperity) influences society’s treatment of a king—granting him high honor and masking his defects, much like clothing covers what is private.