Shloka 13
Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies
Gaṇa-nīti
तत्रादानेन भिद्यन्ते गणा: संघातवृत्तय: । भिन्ना विमनस: सर्वे गच्छन्त्यरिवशं भयात्
tatrādānena bhidyante gaṇāḥ saṅghātavṛttayaḥ | bhinnā vimanasaḥ sarve gacchanty arivaśaṃ bhayāt ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದರು— ಒಗ್ಗಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ಬದುಕು ಸಾಗಿಸುವ ಗಣಗಳೂ ಸಹ ಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕ ಪೋಷಣೆ/ವೇತನ ದೊರಕದಿದ್ದರೆ ಭೇದಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಭೇದಗೊಂಡ ಮೇಲೆ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಕುಗ್ಗಿ, ಪರಸ್ಪರ ವಿರೋಧಿಗಳಾಗಿ, ಭಯದಿಂದ ಶತ್ರುಗಳ ಅಧೀನಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಳುತ್ತಾರೆ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must ensure timely and fair provision (pay, food, support) to those who serve collectively; neglect (adāna) fractures unity, destroys morale, and makes the community vulnerable to enemy domination.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rāja-dharma in the Śānti Parva, he explains a practical cause of political collapse: when a united corporate body or soldiery is not properly maintained, it splits into factions and, weakened by fear and discord, becomes subject to enemies.