Shloka 21
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
कोष्ठागारमसंहार्यराप्तै: संचयतत्परै: । पात्रभूतैरलुब्धैश्व पाल्यमानं गुणी भवेत्
koṣṭhāgāram asaṃhārya-rāptaiḥ saṃcaya-tatparaiḥ | pātra-bhūtair alubdhaiś ca pālyamānaṃ guṇī bhavet ||
ビーシュマは言った。破り入ることのできぬ穀倉も、信頼でき有能な管理者——慎重な蓄積に励み、任を託すに足り、貪りを離れた者——に守られるなら、繁栄し、その価値は絶えず増してゆく。教えはこうだ。資源は貪欲によってではなく、廉直と力量と節制によってこそ栄える。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth and public resources prosper when entrusted to secure systems and to guardians who are competent, trustworthy, and free from greed; integrity and fitness for responsibility are the true protection of a treasury.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous rule and social order, Bhīṣma advises the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) using the example of a granary: proper safeguarding by qualified, non-greedy custodians leads to growth and stability.