Shloka 6
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
यथा शल्यकवानाखु: पदं धूनयते सदा । अतीक्ष्णेनाभ्युपायेन तथा राष्ट्र समापिबेत्
yathā śalyakavān ākhuḥ padaṃ dhūnayate sadā | atīkṣṇenābhyupāyena tathā rāṣṭraṃ samāpibet ||
Bhishma berkata: “Seperti tikus bergigi tajam yang mengerat daging kaki orang yang sedang tidur dengan begitu lembut sehingga si tidur hanya mengibas kakinya tanpa benar-benar menyedari sakitnya, demikian juga raja harus memungut hasil dari negeri dengan cara yang lunak dan tidak mengganggu—agar rakyat tidak tertekan.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should collect revenue in a gentle, minimally burdensome way—so the subjects do not feel oppressed. Fiscal policy must be guided by dharma and the welfare of the people, not by harsh extraction.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma, he uses a vivid analogy: a rat nibbling a sleeper’s foot so subtly that the sleeper only twitches. Likewise, the king should levy taxes gradually and tactfully, avoiding public suffering.