Shloka 23
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
यस्य कोशबलग्लान्या सर्वलोकपरा भव: । भैक्ष्यचर्या न विहिता न च विट् शूद्रजीविका,खजाना और सेना न रहनेसे जिस क्षत्रियको सब लोगोंकी ओरसे पराभव प्राप्त होनेकी सम्भावना हो, उसीके लिये उपर्युक्त बातें बतायी गयी हैं। भीख माँगने और वैश्य या शूद्रकी जीविका अपनानेका क्षत्रियके लिये विधान नहीं है
yasya kośa-bala-glānyā sarva-loka-parā bhavaḥ | bhaikṣya-caryā na vihitā na ca viṭ-śūdra-jīvikā ||
भीष्म उवाच—यस्य कोशबलग्लान्या सर्वलोकपरो भवः, तस्यैवैतद् उपदिष्टम्। न हि क्षत्रियस्य भैक्ष्यचर्या विहिता, न च वैश्यशूद्रजीविका।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kshatriya must uphold kshatriya-dharma even in hardship: when wealth and military power decline and defeat threatens, he should not resort to begging or to occupations assigned to vaishyas or shudras; the prior guidance is framed specifically for such a crisis.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising the king about proper conduct and permissible means of sustenance in times of political and economic weakness, clarifying what is and is not sanctioned for a kshatriya.