Shloka 4
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
कोशं दण्डं च दुर्ग च सहायान् मन्त्रिणस्तथा । ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यान् कीदृशान् वर्जयेन्नप:,“राजाको किस प्रकारके कोश, दण्ड, दुर्ग, सहायक, मन्त्री, ऋत्विकू, पुरोहित और आचार्योंका त्याग कर देना चाहिये?
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: kośaṃ daṇḍaṃ ca durgaṃ ca sahāyān mantriṇas tathā | ṛtvik-purohita-ācāryān kīdṛśān varjayen nṛpaḥ ||
Jenis perbendaharaan, kekuatan penghukuman/ketentaraan, benteng, sekutu, dan menteri seperti apa—serta jenis pendeta upacara (ṛtvik), pendeta istana (purohita), dan guru (ācārya) seperti apa—yang harus ditinggalkan (yakni dihindari atau disingkirkan) oleh seorang raja?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a rājadharma inquiry: a king must be discerning about the instruments and agents of rule—wealth (kośa), enforcement (daṇḍa), defenses (durga), allies, ministers, and religious-educational authorities—and should reject those that are unfit, corrupt, or harmful to dharma and the realm.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating the discourse on kingship in Śānti Parva, introduces a question about standards of selection and rejection: which kinds of state resources and key personnel (political, military, and ritual/educational) a king should avoid or dismiss.