Shloka 7
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
ग्रामं ग्रामशताध्यक्षो भोक्तुमरहति सत्कृत: । महान्तं भरतश्रेष्ठ सुस्फीतं जनसंकुलम्
grāmaṁ grāmaśatādhyakṣo bhoktum arhati satkṛtaḥ | mahāntaṁ bharataśreṣṭha susphītaṁ janasaṅkulam ||
Bhīṣma bersabda: “Seorang penyelia yang ditetapkan atas seratus kampung layak disambut dengan penuh hormat dan ditanggung keperluannya. Wahai yang terbaik daripada keturunan Bharata, hendaklah disediakan baginya sebuah kampung yang besar—makmur, serba cukup, dan padat dengan penduduk.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames a principle of rājadharma: capable administrators who bear responsibility for many villages should be honored and materially supported, receiving a prosperous and populous village as their due—linking public service, merit, and rightful remuneration.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on statecraft, Bhīṣma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and describes how a king should treat a high-ranking local officer (over a hundred villages), emphasizing respectful reception and assignment of a substantial, flourishing village for his maintenance.