Shloka 17
अध्याय ७२ — राजधर्मः: प्रजारक्षण, कर-नीति, दण्ड-नीति, अमात्य-नियोजन
Chapter 72 — Royal Duty: protection of subjects, taxation, punishment, and appointments
यो हि दोग्ध्रीमुपास्ते च स नित्यं विन्दते पय: । एवं राष्ट्रमुपायेन भुज्जानो लभते फलम्
yo hi dogdhrīm upāste ca sa nityaṁ vindate payaḥ | evaṁ rāṣṭram upāyena bhuñjāno labhate phalam ||
جو دودھ دینے والی گائے کی روزانہ خدمت کرتا ہے، وہی ہر دن دودھ پاتا ہے۔ اسی طرح جو بادشاہ درست تدبیروں سے مملکت کی حفاظت و نظم کرتا ہے، وہی اس کے ثمرات سے بہرہ مند ہوتا ہے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Benefit follows responsible care: just as milk comes only to one who tends the milch cow, the prosperity and revenues of a kingdom rightly belong only to the ruler who protects and manages it through proper, dharmic means.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira using a homely analogy: legitimate enjoyment of royal ‘fruits’ depends on sustained service—protection, administration, and prudent policy—toward the realm.