Shloka 15
Bṛhaspati’s Counsel on Contentment
Santoṣa), Restraint, and Adroha (Non-injury
धर्मवर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मत:ः । पुत्रसंक्रामितश्री श्व वने वन्येन वर्तयन्
dharmavartmani saṁsthāpya prajā varteta dharmataḥ | putrasaṅkrāmitśrīḥ śva vane vanyena vartayan ||
「民をダルマの道に据えたなら、彼らを正しさに従って生きさせよ。たとえ自らの繁栄がすでに子へと受け継がれたとしても、なお林に住み、野のものを糧として生きよ——所有によらず、規律と義務によって形づくられた生を保つためである。」
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or elder) should first anchor society in dharma; then, even after transferring wealth and authority to the next generation, one should uphold a disciplined, non-possessive life—symbolized by living in the forest on simple, wild sustenance.
Devastāna articulates a normative instruction about righteous governance and life-stages: establish the subjects in dharma, and after handing over prosperity to one’s son, continue a restrained forest-based mode of living, emphasizing duty over enjoyment.