Shloka 15
Bṛhaspati’s Counsel on Contentment
Santoṣa), Restraint, and Adroha (Non-injury
धर्मवर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मत:ः । पुत्रसंक्रामितश्री श्व वने वन्येन वर्तयन्
dharmavartmani saṁsthāpya prajā varteta dharmataḥ | putrasaṅkrāmitśrīḥ śva vane vanyena vartayan ||
“Kapag naitatag mo na ang mga tao sa landas ng dharma, hayaan silang mamuhay ayon sa katuwiran. Kahit na ang iyong kasaganaan ay naipamana na sa iyong anak, magpatuloy ka pa ring manirahan sa gubat, tinutustusan ang sarili ng mga bunga ng ilang—pinananatili ang buhay na hinuhubog ng disiplina at tungkulin, hindi ng pag-aangkin.”
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or elder) should first anchor society in dharma; then, even after transferring wealth and authority to the next generation, one should uphold a disciplined, non-possessive life—symbolized by living in the forest on simple, wild sustenance.
Devastāna articulates a normative instruction about righteous governance and life-stages: establish the subjects in dharma, and after handing over prosperity to one’s son, continue a restrained forest-based mode of living, emphasizing duty over enjoyment.