Shloka 15
Kośa-saṃjanana and Subtle Dharma
Treasury Formation and Fine-Grained Ethics
यथा सद्धिः परादानमहिंसा दस्युभि: कृता । अनुरज्यन्ति भूतानि समयदिषु दस्युषु
yathā saddhiḥ parādānam ahiṃsā dasyubhiḥ kṛtā | anurajyanti bhūtāni samayādiṣu dasyuṣu ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Gaya ng kahit sa hanay ng mga tulisan ay maaaring may tuntunin—kapag ang ‘mabubuting’ magnanakaw ay kumukuha ng yaman ng iba ngunit umiiwas sa karahasan—gayundin, ang mga nilalang ay maaari pang mahumaling sa mga tulisan na sumusunod sa napagkasunduang hangganan at kaugalian. Sapagkat ang marunong magpigil sa loob ng itinakdang hangganan ay maaaring tanggapin, at sa sariling paraan ay maging tagapangalaga ng marami.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights that even in morally compromised groups, restraint and adherence to agreed limits (samaya/maryādā) are recognized and can win social acceptance. The verse underscores the ethical value of non-violence and self-limitation as stabilizing forces in society.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma uses an illustrative example: some ‘good’ robbers steal but avoid violence and respect certain conventions. Because of this restraint, people may even feel goodwill toward them, acknowledging the practical protection or order such restraint can create.