Shloka 36
तदस्य स्याद् बलार्थ वा धन यज्ञार्थमेव च । भरतनन्दन! ये समस्त प्रजाएँ क्षत्रियोंकी हैं। राज्यभोग भी क्षत्रियोंके ही हैं और सारा धन भी उन्हींका है, दूसरेका नहीं है; किंतु वह धन उसकी सेनाके लिये है या यज्ञानुष्ठानके लिये
tadasya syād balārthaṃ vā dhanaṃ yajñārtham eva ca | bharatanandana! ye samastāḥ prajāḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ santi | rājyabhogā api kṣatriyāṇām eva santi, sarvaṃ dhanaṃ ca teṣām eva, na anyasya; kintu tad dhanaṃ tasya senāyai vā yajñānuṣṭhānāya vā bhavati |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang yaman ay dapat ituring na para sa lakas—ibig sabihin, para sa pagpapanatili ng hukbo—o kaya’y tanging para sa pagsasagawa ng yajna (handog na sakripisyo). O inapo ni Bharata! Ang lahat ng nasasakupan ay nasa ilalim ng mga Kshatriya; ang mga ginhawa ng paghahari ay kanila rin, at ang lahat ng yaman ay kanila, hindi ng iba. Ngunit ang yamang iyon ay hindi para sa pansariling luho: ito’y upang tustusan ang lakas-militar ng hari o upang itaguyod ang mga banal na ritwal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal wealth is ethically justified only when directed to public and dharmic ends—maintaining the kingdom’s protective strength (army) and sustaining sacred obligations (sacrifices)—not for mere personal enjoyment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on Rajadharma, Bhishma addresses Yudhishthira (Bharatanandana) and explains the rightful purpose of a Kshatriya king’s control over subjects, revenues, and wealth: it must serve protection and ritual duty.