Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
पुत्रान् पौत्रान् पशुंश्वैव बान्धवान् सचिवांस्तथा । पुरं जनपदं चैव शान्तिरिष्टेन पोषयेत्
putrān pautrān paśūṃś caiva bāndhavān sacivāṃs tathā | puraṃ janapadaṃ caiva śāntir iṣṭena poṣayet ||
ພີສະມະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ໂດຍອານຸພາບແຫ່ງກຸສົນຈາກການກະທໍາທີ່ຊອບທໍາທີ່ເລືອກເຮັດ (iṣṭa) ຄົນໜຶ່ງຈະເປັນແຫຼ່ງແຫ່ງສັນຕິ ແລະຄວາມຜາສຸກ ຄ້ຳຈຸນແລະເກື້ອກູນລູກຫຼານ, ຍາດພີ່ນ້ອງ, ສັດລ້ຽງ, ຂຸນນາງມົນຕີ, ເມືອງ ແລະຊົນນະບົດອັນກວ້າງໃຫຍ່.»
भीष्म उवाच
Righteous, approved action (iṣṭa) generates peace (śānti) that extends beyond the individual, sustaining family, dependents, and the political community (ministers, city, and realm). Dharma is presented as a practical force that nourishes society.
In Bhishma’s instruction on conduct and duties, he explains to the listener that a person’s meritorious practice makes him a stabilizing presence, enabling the prosperity and maintenance of his household and the wider community under his influence.