Shloka 21
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
भृतो वत्सो जातबल: पीडां सहति भारत | न कर्म कुरुते वत्सो भृशं दुग्धो युधिष्ठिर
bhṛto vatsaḥ jātavalaḥ pīḍāṃ sahati bhārata | na karma kurute vatsaḥ bhṛśaṃ dugdho yudhiṣṭhira ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “O Bharata (Yudhishthira), ang guyang napakain at napangalagaan nang wasto ay lumalakas at nakakatiis ng hirap at mabibigat na pasan. Ngunit ang guyang ang inahing baka ay labis na ginatasan ay nanghihina at hindi makagagawa ng gayong gawain. Kaya ang labis na pagkuha para sa agarang pakinabang ay sumisira sa lakas at kakayahan sa hinaharap.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that strength and capability arise from proper nourishment and restraint: if one drains resources excessively for immediate benefit, the dependent becomes weak and future productivity and resilience are lost. Ethical rule requires measured use and long-term care.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and statecraft. Here he uses a pastoral analogy—calf and cow—to illustrate how over-milking (over-exploitation) weakens what should be nurtured, implying guidance for a king’s treatment of subjects and resources.