Shloka 22
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
मद्यमांसपरस्वानि तथा दारा धनानि च | आहरेद् रागवशगस्तथा शास्त्र प्रदर्शयेत्,आसक्तिके वशीभूत हुआ मानव मांस खाता, मदिरा पीता और परधन तथा परस्त्रीका अपहरण करता है। साथ ही दूसरोंको भी यही सब करनेका उपदेश देता है
madyamāṁsa-parasvāni tathā dārā dhanāni ca | āhared rāga-vaśagas tathā śāstra-pradarśayet ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Ang taong dinaig ng pita ay kumakamkam ng nakalalasing na inumin at karne, at pati ang pag-aari ng iba—mga babae at kayamanan. Kapag nalugmok sa gayong pagkahumaling, hindi lamang niya ginagawa ang mga ito, kundi nagtatangkang magturo ng mga “katwirang mula sa kasulatan” at inuudyukan ang iba sa kaparehong kasamaan—kaya lalo siyang nalalayo sa dharma.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked rāga (passionate craving) drives a person into adharma—stealing others’ wealth, violating others’ marital rights, and indulging in intoxicants and meat—and the fall worsens when one rationalizes these acts by citing śāstra and persuading others to imitate them.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma warns Yudhiṣṭhira about the moral collapse caused by attachment: the addicted person not only commits transgressions but also spreads them by presenting misleading “scriptural” endorsements.