Shloka 35

Devanagari script

राज्ञ: कोशबलं मूलं कोशमूलं पुनर्बलम्‌ । तन्मूलं सर्वधर्माणां धर्ममूला: पुनः प्रजा:,राजाकी जड़ है सेना और खजाना। इनमें भी खजाना ही सेनाकी जड़ है। सेना सम्पूर्ण धर्मोकी रक्षाका मूल कारण है और धर्म ही प्रजाकी जड़ है

Transliteration

rājñaḥ kośabalaṃ mūlaṃ kośamūlaṃ punar balam | tanmūlaṃ sarvadharmāṇāṃ dharmamūlāḥ punaḥ prajāḥ ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「王にとって力の根は国庫（kośa）と軍勢であり、軍勢の根はまた国庫にある。その力によって諸々のダルマは守られ、ダルマによってこそ民の安定と繁栄が支えられる。」

Word by Word

राज्ञःof the king

कोशबलम्treasury and army (resources and force)

मूलम्the root/foundation

कोशमूलम्having the treasury as its root; treasury-rooted

पुनःagain; further

बलम्strength; army/force

तत्that (i.e., that force/army)

मूलम्the root/foundation

सर्वधर्माणाम्of all dharmas (duties/laws)

धर्ममूलाःhaving dharma as their root; rooted in dharma

पुनःagain; further

प्रजाःthe subjects/people

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

king (rājā)

treasury (kośa)

army/force (bala)

dharma

subjects/people (prajāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma presents a chain of foundations in kingship: the king’s effective power depends on treasury and army; the army depends on financial resources; that strength enables the safeguarding of dharma; and dharma is the ultimate foundation for the well-being and continuity of the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance. Here he emphasizes that moral order (dharma) requires protection, and such protection in a kingdom relies on material capacity—especially a well-maintained treasury supporting the army.