Shloka 14
अपशास्त्रपरो राजा धर्मार्थान्नाधिगच्छति । अस्थाने चास्य तद् वित्त सर्वमेव विनश्यति,शास्त्रसे विपरीत चलनेवाला राजा न तो धर्मकी सिद्धि कर पाता है और न अर्थकी ही। यदि उसे धन मिल भी जाय तो वह सारा ही बुरे कामोंमें नष्ट हो जाता है
apāśāstraparo rājā dharmārthān nādhigacchati | asthāne cāsya tad vittaṁ sarvam eva vinaśyati ||
“Ang haring kumakapit sa di-śāstra at kumikilos laban sa wastong aral ay hindi nakakamtan ang dharma ni ang artha. Kahit dumating sa kanya ang yaman, nauuwi iyon sa maling paggugol at tuluyang napaparam.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be guided by śāstra (right teaching, disciplined counsel, and ethical norms). If he follows unśāstric ways, he fails in both dharma (moral legitimacy) and artha (stable prosperity). Even acquired wealth is wasted and ultimately ruined when spent in improper ways.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma (the duties and conduct of kings). Here he warns that a king who rejects proper guidance cannot secure righteous order or lasting prosperity, and that misdirected wealth collapses through misuse.