Shloka 35
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
राज्ञ: कोशबलं मूलं कोशमूलं पुनर्बलम् । तन्मूलं सर्वधर्माणां धर्ममूला: पुनः प्रजा:,राजाकी जड़ है सेना और खजाना। इनमें भी खजाना ही सेनाकी जड़ है। सेना सम्पूर्ण धर्मोकी रक्षाका मूल कारण है और धर्म ही प्रजाकी जड़ है
rājñaḥ kośabalaṃ mūlaṃ kośamūlaṃ punar balam | tanmūlaṃ sarvadharmāṇāṃ dharmamūlāḥ punaḥ prajāḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Bagi seorang raja, akar kekuasaan ialah perbendaharaan (kośa) dan angkatan tentera; dan angkatan tentera pula berakar pada perbendaharaan. Di atas kekuatan itulah terletak perlindungan segala dharma; dan pada dharma pula bergantung kestabilan serta kemakmuran rakyat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma presents a chain of foundations in kingship: the king’s effective power depends on treasury and army; the army depends on financial resources; that strength enables the safeguarding of dharma; and dharma is the ultimate foundation for the well-being and continuity of the people.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance. Here he emphasizes that moral order (dharma) requires protection, and such protection in a kingdom relies on material capacity—especially a well-maintained treasury supporting the army.