Shloka 20
Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)
कोशक्षये त्वमित्राणां वशं कौसल्य गच्छति । उभयत्र प्रयुक्तस्य धर्मेणाधर्म एव च
kośakṣaye tv amitrāṇāṁ vaśaṁ kauśalya gacchati | ubhayatra prayuktasya dharmeṇādharm eva ca |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kapag naubos ang kabang-yaman, O Kaushalya, ang hari ay di maiiwasang mapasailalim sa kapangyarihan ng kanyang mga kaaway. Sapagkat ang pinunong laging kumikilos sa magkabilang panig—minsan sa dharma at minsan sa adharma—tiyak na mauubos ang kanyang yaman; at kapag walang laman ang mga sisidlan ng salapi, guguho ang kanyang kasarinlan at magiging lantad sa mga puwersang mapanlaban.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s strength rests on a well-maintained treasury; reckless conduct—whether justified as dharma or driven by adharma—can drain resources, and once the treasury is depleted the ruler loses autonomy and becomes subject to enemies.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises a Kosala ruler (addressed as Kauśalya) about practical governance: financial depletion leads directly to political vulnerability and enemy domination.