Shloka 37
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
शस्याभिहारं कुर्याच्च स्वयमेव नराधिप: । असम्भवे प्रवेशस्य दहेद् दावाग्निना भृूशम्,राजा स्वयं ही ध्यान देकर खेतोंमें तैयार हुई अनाजकी फसलको कटवाकर किलेके भीतर रखवा ले। यदि किलेमें लाना सम्भव न हो तो उन फसलोंको आग लगाकर जला दे
śasyābhihāraṃ kuryācca svayam eva narādhipaḥ | asambhave praveśasya dahed dāvāgninā bhṛśam ||
भीष्म उवाच— राजा स्वयमेव शस्याभिहारं कुर्यात्। पक्वं सस्यं छेदयित्वा दुर्गान्तः स्थापयेत्। प्रवेशोऽसम्भवे तु दावाग्निना तत् सर्वं भृशं दहेत्, यथा शत्रुः अन्नं न लभेत्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must act decisively to secure provisions during conflict: either safeguard resources within the fort or, if that is impossible, deny them to the enemy—even through harsh measures—so the larger duty of protecting the realm is upheld.
Bhīṣma is instructing the king on practical measures for fort-defense in wartime: harvest the ready crops and store them inside the fortress; if transport into the fort cannot be done, burn the crops to prevent the opposing force from using them.