Shloka 37
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
शस्याभिहारं कुर्याच्च स्वयमेव नराधिप: । असम्भवे प्रवेशस्य दहेद् दावाग्निना भृूशम्
śasyābhihāraṃ kuryācca svayam eva narādhipaḥ | asambhave praveśasya dahed dāvāgninā bhṛśam ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王はみずから、熟した穀物の収穫と搬出を確実にせねばならぬ。刈り取らせたのち、収穫物を砦の内へ運び入れて貯蔵させよ。もし砦内へ運び込めぬなら、敵に兵糧を奪われぬよう、延焼する火で作物を徹底して焼き払わせよ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must act decisively to secure provisions during conflict: either safeguard resources within the fort or, if that is impossible, deny them to the enemy—even through harsh measures—so the larger duty of protecting the realm is upheld.
Bhīṣma is instructing the king on practical measures for fort-defense in wartime: harvest the ready crops and store them inside the fortress; if transport into the fort cannot be done, burn the crops to prevent the opposing force from using them.