Shloka 83
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
धान्यहैरण्यभोगेन भोक्तुं राष्ट्रिससज्भत: । सहस्र गाँवका श्रेष्ठ अधिपति एक शाखानगर (कस्बे)-की आय पानेका अधिकारी है। उस कस्बेमें जो अन्न और सुवर्णकी आय हो
dhānya-hairaṇya-bhogena bhoktuṁ rāṣṭraiḥ sa saṁbhataḥ | sahasra-grāma-kāḥ śreṣṭhaḥ adhipatiḥ eka-śākhā-nagara-(kasba)-kī āya-pāne ’dhikārī hai | us kasbe meṁ jo anna aura suvarṇa kī āya ho, uske dvārā vaha icchānusāra upabhoga kara sakatā hai | use rāṣṭra-vāsiyoṁ ke sātha milakara rahanā cāhiye ||
Bhishma berkata: Seorang gabenor tempatan yang utama—yang ditetapkan memerintah seribu kampung—hendaklah berhak kepada hasil sebuah pekan sahaja. Daripada pendapatan pekan itu, berupa bijirin dan emas, dia boleh menyara diri dan menikmati apa yang wajar menurut kedudukannya. Namun dia mesti hidup seia sekata dengan rakyat negeri, menyatu dengan mereka dan tidak memisahkan diri.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
An official’s material entitlement (revenue in grain and gold) is legitimate when bounded by dharma: it should be tied to a defined jurisdiction and accompanied by social responsibility—living in harmony with the populace rather than exploiting or alienating them.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma outlines administrative norms: a chief overseeing a large rural unit (a thousand villages) is assigned the income of a township for maintenance, but is instructed to remain cooperative and integrated with the kingdom’s people.