Shloka 15
Kośa-saṃjanana and Subtle Dharma
Treasury Formation and Fine-Grained Ethics
यथा सद्धिः परादानमहिंसा दस्युभि: कृता । अनुरज्यन्ति भूतानि समयदिषु दस्युषु
yathā saddhiḥ parādānam ahiṃsā dasyubhiḥ kṛtā | anurajyanti bhūtāni samayādiṣu dasyuṣu ||
ビーシュマは言った。「盗賊の中にさえ掟はあり得る。いわゆる『良き盗賊』が他人の財を奪っても、暴力を慎むように。ゆえに、取り決められた限度と慣行を守る盗賊に、衆生が情を寄せることすらある。節度の境を保つ者は、そのやり方なりに、多くに受け入れられ、さらには守り手ともなり得るのだ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights that even in morally compromised groups, restraint and adherence to agreed limits (samaya/maryādā) are recognized and can win social acceptance. The verse underscores the ethical value of non-violence and self-limitation as stabilizing forces in society.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma uses an illustrative example: some ‘good’ robbers steal but avoid violence and respect certain conventions. Because of this restraint, people may even feel goodwill toward them, acknowledging the practical protection or order such restraint can create.