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Shloka 29

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

आकरे लवणे शुल्के तरे नागबले तथा । न्यसेदमात्यान्‌ नृपतिः स्वाप्तान्‌ वा पुरुषान्‌ हितान्‌,सोने आदिकी खान, नमक, अनाज आदिकी मंडी, नावके घाट तथा हाथियोंके यूथ-- इन सब स्थानोंपर होनेवाली आयके निरीक्षणके लिये मन्त्रियोंको अथवा अपना हित चाहनेवाले विश्वसनीय पुरुषोंको राजा नियुक्त करे

ākare lavaṇe śulke tare nāgabale tathā | nyased amātyān nṛpatiḥ svāptān vā puruṣān hitān ||

బంగారం మొదలైన గనులు, ఉప్పు, సుంకాలు, ధాన్యమండీలు, నావఘాటాలు, అలాగే ఏనుగుల దళాలు—ఈ అన్ని చోట్ల వచ్చే ఆదాయాన్ని పర్యవేక్షించుటకు రాజు మంత్రులను గాని, తన హితాన్ని కోరే విశ్వసనీయ పురుషులను గాని నియమించాలి।

ākarein a mine/ore-deposit
ākare:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootākara
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
lavaṇein salt (works/market)
lavaṇe:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootlavaṇa
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
śulkein toll/customs-duty (collection)
śulke:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootśulka
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
tareat a ferry/ford
tare:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Roottara
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
nāgabalein the elephant-force (elephant corps)
nāgabale:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootnāgabala
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
tathālikewise/also
tathā:
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā
nyasetshould appoint/place
nyaset:
TypeVerb
Rootni-√as
FormOptative (Vidhi-liṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
amātyānministers
amātyān:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootamātya
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
nṛpatiḥthe king
nṛpatiḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootnṛpati
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
svāptāntrusted/faithful (ones)
svāptān:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootsvāpta
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
or
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
puruṣānmen/persons
puruṣān:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
hitānwell-disposed/beneficial (to him)
hitān:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Roothita
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
N
nṛpati (king)
A
amātya (ministers/officials)
Ā
ākara (mines)
L
lavaṇa (salt-works)
Ś
śulka (customs/tolls)
T
tara (ferry/ghats)
N
nāgabala (elephant corps)

Educational Q&A

A king must protect public revenue by appointing trustworthy officials to oversee key income sources—mines, salt, customs, ferries, and elephant establishments—so that wealth is collected lawfully and not lost through negligence or corruption.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the ruler on practical statecraft: setting reliable oversight over major revenue points and strategic departments to ensure stable governance and a secure treasury.