Shloka 19
Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)
दानाच्छेदे स्वयंकारी श्रद्धालु: सुखदर्शन: । आर्तहस्तप्रदो नित्यमाप्तामात्यो नये रत:
dānāc chede svayaṃkārī śraddhāluḥ sukhadarśanaḥ | ārta-hasta-prado nityam āptāmātyo naye rataḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王は施しの伝統を決して絶やしてはならぬ。みずから寛大に励み、信を具え、その姿を見ただけで人々が慰められるほど和やかであるべきだ。苦しむ者には常に手を差し伸べ、信頼できる大臣に支えられ、正しい政道と公正な統治に専心せよ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that a ruler’s legitimacy and welfare-producing power rest on uninterrupted generosity, personal initiative, faith, compassion toward the distressed, reliance on trustworthy ministers, and steady commitment to prudent statecraft (naya).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the qualities a king should cultivate—especially sustaining charitable giving and actively protecting and supporting those who suffer.