Shloka 17
अध्याय ७२ — राजधर्मः: प्रजारक्षण, कर-नीति, दण्ड-नीति, अमात्य-नियोजन
Chapter 72 — Royal Duty: protection of subjects, taxation, punishment, and appointments
यो हि दोग्ध्रीमुपास्ते च स नित्यं विन्दते पय: । एवं राष्ट्रमुपायेन भुज्जानो लभते फलम्
yo hi dogdhrīm upāste ca sa nityaṁ vindate payaḥ | evaṁ rāṣṭram upāyena bhuñjāno labhate phalam ||
Bhīṣma disse: Só aquele que diariamente cuida e serve a vaca que dá leite obtém leite a cada dia. Do mesmo modo, apenas o rei que protege e administra o reino por meios corretos desfruta verdadeiramente de seus frutos.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Benefit follows responsible care: just as milk comes only to one who tends the milch cow, the prosperity and revenues of a kingdom rightly belong only to the ruler who protects and manages it through proper, dharmic means.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira using a homely analogy: legitimate enjoyment of royal ‘fruits’ depends on sustained service—protection, administration, and prudent policy—toward the realm.