Shloka 2
Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas
Kekaya Exemplum
युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--भरतकुलभूषण पितामह! किन-किन मनुष्योंके धनपर राजाका अधिकार होता है? तथा राजाको कैसा बर्ताव करना चाहिये? यह मुझे बताइये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | abrāhmaṇānāṃ vittasya svāmī rājeti vaidikam | brāhmaṇānāṃ ca ye kecid vikarmasthā bhavanty uta ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “O hari, ayon sa aral ng Veda, ang hari ang may karapatang panginoon sa yaman ng lahat ng hindi brāhmana. At maging sa mga brāhmana, yaong mga nalugmok sa vikarma—pag-uugaling salungat sa itinakdang tungkulin—ay nasasaklaw din ng kapangyarihan ng hari hinggil sa kanilang yaman.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a principle of rājadharma: the king has overarching authority over the wealth of non-Brahmins, and even over Brahmins who abandon their prescribed duties and engage in vikarma. Authority is framed as conditional and tied to maintaining dharma and social order.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Yudhiṣṭhira asks Bhishma about the king’s rights over subjects’ wealth and proper royal conduct. Bhishma replies by citing a Vedic principle defining whose wealth falls under royal jurisdiction, emphasizing the king’s role as guardian of dharma.