Shloka 13
Kośa-saṃjanana and Subtle Dharma
Treasury Formation and Fine-Grained Ethics
स्थापयेदेव मर्यादां जनचित्तप्रसादिनीम् । अल्पे>प्यर्थे च मर्यादा लोके भवति पूजिता,राजाको ऐसी ही मर्यादा स्थापित करनी चाहिये, जो सब लोगोंके चित्तको प्रसन्न करनेवाली हो। लोकमें छोटे-से काममें भी मर्यादाका ही मान होता है
sthāpayet eva maryādāṃ janacitta-prasādinīm | alpe 'py arthe ca maryādā loke bhavati pūjitā ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Seorang raja hendaklah menegakkan maryādā—batas dan piawaian tingkah laku yang wajar—yang menenteramkan serta memuaskan hati rakyat. Di dunia ini, walau dalam perkara yang paling kecil sekalipun, prinsip kesopanan dan tertib (maryādā) itulah yang dihormati.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is that legitimate rule depends on establishing maryādā—clear, fair, and socially accepted standards of conduct that steady and please the public mind; even minor affairs gain dignity when handled within proper limits and procedure.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king (Yudhiṣṭhira in context) on principles of governance, emphasizing that orderly norms and propriety are respected by society and are essential to stable rule.