Shloka 31
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
राजा राष्ट्र यथा55पत्सु द्रव्यौघैरपि रक्षति । राष्ट्रेण राजा व्यसने रक्षितव्यस्तथा भवेत्
bhīṣma uvāca | rājā rāṣṭraṃ yathāpattsu dravyaughair api rakṣati | rāṣṭreṇa rājā vyasane rakṣitavyas tathā bhavet ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kung paanong ang hari, kapag dumating ang kapahamakan sa bayan, ay ipinagtatanggol sila kahit gumugol ng nag-uumapaw na kayamanan, gayon din kapag ang kasawian ay dumapo sa hari, ang mga tao ng kaharian ay dapat ding magtanggol sa kanya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches reciprocity in rajadharma: the king must protect the people even at great material cost, and the people (the realm) must in turn protect the king when he faces adversity. Stability of the state rests on mutual duty rather than one-sided entitlement.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on the duties binding ruler and subjects. He frames the relationship as a two-way protective bond: royal guardianship in public crises and public support in royal crises.