Adhyāya 64: Dāna-prakāra—Suvarṇa, Pānīya-dāna, Ghṛta-dāna, and Upakaraṇa-dāna
Utility Gifts
शुभं वा यच्च कुर्वन्ति प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिता: | चतुर्थ तस्य पुण्यस्य राजा चाप्रोति भारत,भारत! राजासे भलीभाँति सुरक्षित होकर प्रजा जो भी शुभ कर्म करती है, उसके पुण्यका चौथाई भाग राजा प्राप्त कर लेता है
śubhaṃ vā yac ca kurvanti prajā rājñā surakṣitāḥ | caturthaṃ tasya puṇyasya rājā cāpnōti bhārata ||
ビーシュマは言った。「おお、バーラタよ。王が民をよく守護するなら、民がなすいかなる吉祥の善行も、その功徳の四分の一を王もまた受け取るのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
A king who truly protects his subjects becomes morally connected to their welfare: the people’s capacity to perform good deeds arises under secure governance, so the ruler earns a quarter share of the resulting merit.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of rājadharma (the duties of kings). Here he explains how effective protection of the realm yields ethical reward for the king through the virtuous actions of the protected populace.