Shloka 24
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
पौरजानपदान सर्वान् संश्रितोपश्ितांस्तथा | यथाशक्त्यनुकम्पेत सर्वान् स््वल्पधनानपि
paurajānāpadān sarvān saṁśritopaśritāṁs tathā | yathāśakty anukampeta sarvān svalpadhanān api ||
ನಗರ ಮತ್ತು ಗ್ರಾಮಗಳ ಎಲ್ಲ ಜನರು—ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಶರಣಾಗಿ ಬಂದವರಾಗಲಿ ಅಥವಾ ಮಧ್ಯಸ್ಥರ ಮೂಲಕ ಶರಣಾಗತರಾದವರಾಗಲಿ—ಅಲ್ಪಧನಿಗಳಾದರೂ ರಾಜನು ತನ್ನ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಮೇಲೂ ಕರುಣೆ ತೋರಬೇಕು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is to protect and show compassion to all who seek refuge—city and village alike—without discriminating against the poor; mercy should be extended according to the king’s capacity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on governance, emphasizing that the king must respond kindly to subjects who come for protection, whether directly or through intermediaries.