Shloka 47
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
पुत्रो वा यदि वा भ्राता पिता वा यदि वा सुद्त् । अर्थस्य विघ्नं कुर्वाणा हन्तव्या भूतिमिच्छता
putro vā yadi vā bhrātā pitā vā yadi vā suhṛt | arthasya vighnaṁ kurvāṇā hantavyā bhūtim icchatā ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Maging anak man, kapatid, ama, o kahit kaibigang may mabuting hangarin—kung sila’y maging hadlang sa pagkamal at pag-iingat ng kapakinabangang pangkabuhayan ng hari, ang pinunong naghahangad ng kasaganaan at paghahari ay hindi dapat mag-atubiling ipapatay sila.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the framework of rājadharma, Bhīṣma prioritizes the stability and prosperity of the realm (artha/bhūti) over personal attachment: even close kin or trusted allies may be punished—up to death—if they actively obstruct the king’s essential political and economic aims.
During the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhīṣma lays down a hard rule of statecraft for Yudhiṣṭhira: a ruler must act decisively against anyone who threatens the kingdom’s interests, even if that person is a son, brother, father, or friend.