Shloka 22
अध्याय ७२ — राजधर्मः: प्रजारक्षण, कर-नीति, दण्ड-नीति, अमात्य-नियोजन
Chapter 72 — Royal Duty: protection of subjects, taxation, punishment, and appointments
मा स्म ते ब्राह्मणं दृष्टवा धनस्थ॑ प्रचलेन्मन: । अन्त्यायामप्यवस्थायां किमु स्फीतस्थ भारत
mā sma te brāhmaṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā dhanasthaḥ pracalen manaḥ | antyāyām apy avasthāyāṁ kimu sphītastha bhārata bharatanandana ||
Bhishma disse: “Ó Bharata, deleite dos Bharatas, não deixes que tua mente vacile para tomar riquezas ao veres um brâmane próspero. Mesmo que caias na mais extrema pobreza, essa contenção deve permanecer; quanto mais quando tu mesmo estás bem provido.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must restrain greed: even in dire poverty one should not be tempted to seize a Brahmin’s wealth; therefore, in prosperity this restraint is even more obligatory.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and righteous governance, Bhishma counsels Yudhishthira on ethical conduct regarding wealth—specifically warning against coveting or taking the property of Brahmins.