Shloka 12
कौशिकस्य क्रोधविनिवृत्तिः — Kauśika’s Anger Checked by Householder Dharma
राजोवाच पूर्वाह्न ते दास्यामि यो मे5द्य बलिरागमिष्यति | यो हन्यते कशया कथं मोघं क्षेपणं तस्य स्थात्,राजा बोले--ब्रह्मन! आज जो भी राजकीय कर मेरे पास आयेगा, उसे कल पूर्वज्षिमें ही आपको दे दूँगा। जिसे कोड़ेसे पीटा जाय, उसे खाली हाथ कैसे लौटाया जा सकता है?
rājovāca pūrvāhne te dāsyāmi yo me 'dya balir āgamiṣyati | yo hanyate kaśayā kathaṃ moghaṃ kṣepaṇaṃ tasya sthāt ||
王は言った。「婆羅門よ。今日わがもとに入る王の徴収分（貢納）は、明日の午前にそなたへ与えよう。鞭で打たれた者を、どうして手ぶらで帰せようか。わが約束が空しく終わることなど、あってはならぬ。」
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes keeping one’s word and ensuring that a supplicant is not dismissed fruitlessly; the king frames generosity and promise-keeping as ethical necessities, not optional favors.
The king responds to a brāhmaṇa by pledging that the tribute collected that day will be handed over the next morning, justifying the pledge with the idea that one who has been ‘driven’ or compelled (likened to being whipped) should not be turned back empty-handed.