यः पितृपैतामहमर्थमन्यायेन भक्षयति स मूलहरः ॥ कZ_०२.९.२१ ॥
yaḥ pitṛpaitāmaham artham anyāyena bhakṣayati sa mūlaharaḥ
父祖伝来の財産(蓄積された資本)を不法に費消する者は、「元本を食い潰す者」(mūlahara)である。
It points to accumulated reserves/endowments and foundational assets; stealing them undermines long-term fiscal capacity.
Because it destroys the base stock (principal) rather than merely skimming periodic flows.