Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
एवं दण्डं च कोशं च मित्र भूमिं च लप्स्यसि । सत्यार्जवपरो राजन् मित्रकोशबलान्वित:
evaṁ daṇḍaṁ ca kośaṁ ca mitra-bhūmiṁ ca lapsyasi | satyārjava-paro rājan mitra-kośa-balānvitaḥ ||
ພີດສະມະກ່າວວ່າ: «ເມື່ອເຈົ້າເຮັດເຊັ່ນນີ້ ເຈົ້າຈະໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມສາມາດໃນການໃຊ້ອຳນາດແຫ່ງການລົງໂທດແລະການປົກຄອງ, ພ້ອມທັງຄັງຫຼວງອຸດົມ, ມິດສະຫາຍສັດຊື່, ແລະແຜ່ນດິນທີ່ປອດໄພ. ໂອ ພະຣາຊາ, ໂດຍມຸ່ງໝັ້ນໃນຄວາມຈິງແລະຄວາມຕົງໄປຕົງມາ ເຈົ້າຈະພ້ອມດ້ວຍມິດ, ຊັບສິນ, ແລະກຳລັງ».
भीष्य उवाच
Bhīṣma teaches that a ruler’s tangible powers—authority to punish (daṇḍa), wealth (kośa), alliances (mitra), and stable territory (bhūmi)—are secured and sustained by moral qualities, especially truthfulness (satya) and integrity/straightforwardness (ārjava). Ethical conduct is presented as the foundation of effective governance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira in context) and explains the practical outcomes of following the advised conduct: the king will gain the instruments and supports of rule—punitive authority, treasury, allies, and strength—by remaining committed to truth and sincerity.