Shloka 47
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
पुत्रो वा यदि वा भ्राता पिता वा यदि वा सुद्त् । अर्थस्य विघ्नं कुर्वाणा हन्तव्या भूतिमिच्छता,"पुत्र, भाई, पिता अथवा मित्र जो भी अर्थप्राप्तिमें विघ्न डालनेवाले हों, उन्हें ऐश्वर्य चाहनेवाला राजा अवश्य मार डाले
putro vā yadi vā bhrātā pitā vā yadi vā suhṛt | arthasya vighnaṁ kurvāṇā hantavyā bhūtim icchatā ||
Bhishma berkata: Entah itu putra, saudara, ayah, atau bahkan sahabat yang berniat baik—bila mereka menjadi penghalang bagi perolehan dan penjagaan kepentingan materiil kerajaan, maka penguasa yang menghendaki kemakmuran dan kedaulatan tidak boleh ragu untuk menjatuhkan hukuman; bahkan bila perlu, menjatuhkan hukuman mati.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the framework of rājadharma, Bhīṣma prioritizes the stability and prosperity of the realm (artha/bhūti) over personal attachment: even close kin or trusted allies may be punished—up to death—if they actively obstruct the king’s essential political and economic aims.
During the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhīṣma lays down a hard rule of statecraft for Yudhiṣṭhira: a ruler must act decisively against anyone who threatens the kingdom’s interests, even if that person is a son, brother, father, or friend.