Shloka 2
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
भीष्य उवाच यथादेशं यथाकालं यथाबुद्धि यथाबलम् । अनुशिष्यात् प्रजा राजा धर्मार्थी तद्धिते रत:
bhīṣma uvāca | yathādeśaṃ yathākālaṃ yathābuddhi yathābalam | anuśiṣyāt prajā rājā dharmārthī taddhite rataḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai raja! Seorang raja yang menuntut dharma hendaklah memerintah dan mendisiplinkan rakyatnya dengan keprihatinan yang berterusan terhadap kebajikan mereka—bertindak menurut keadaan tempat dan negeri, tuntutan zaman, serta sepadan dengan kefahaman dan kekuatannya sendiri.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is not rigid rule for its own sake, but welfare-oriented governance: the king should discipline and guide the people while adapting to place, time, and his own capacity, keeping the subjects’ benefit as the guiding aim.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising the king (Yudhishthira in context) on how a righteous ruler should administer society—by prudent, context-sensitive governance devoted to the people’s good.