Shloka 54
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
भाण्डागारायुधागारान् योधागारांश्व॒ सर्वश: । अश्वागारान् गजागारान् बलाधिकरणानि च
bhāṇḍāgārāyudhāgārān yodhāgārāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ | aśvāgārān gajāgārān balādhikaraṇāni ca, kurunandana yudhiṣṭhira |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Yudhiṣṭhira, ligaya ng mga Kuru, dapat ipahanda sa lahat ng paraan ang mga bodega ng yaman at pagkain, mga imbakan ng sandata, tirahan ng mga mandirigma, mga kuwadra ng kabayo, mga silungan ng elepante, at mga himpilan ng pamamahala ng hukbo. Ang mahahalagang pook na ito ng kaharian ay dapat planuhin nang may bantay na pag-iingat at lihim na pagpapasya, upang hindi madaling makita o masukat ng iba—sa gayon ay napangangalagaan ang seguridad at kahandaan ng lupain.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must protect the kingdom by organizing critical military and logistical infrastructure—supplies, weapons, troops, horses, elephants, and command offices—with prudent secrecy and secure planning, so adversaries cannot easily assess or sabotage the state’s preparedness.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising King Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance. Here he lists key facilities of the realm—storehouses, armouries, barracks, stables, elephant sheds, and army offices—and urges that they be established and maintained with careful discretion for the safety of the kingdom.