Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 40
Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)
श्रीक्ष राज्यं च कोशकश्ष क्षत्रियाणां युधिषछ्ठिर
bhīṣma uvāca | śrīś ca rājyaṃ ca kośaś ca kṣatriyāṇāṃ yudhiṣṭhira | rājā yudhiṣṭhira! lakṣmī rājyaṃ ca kośaś ca—etat sarvaṃ śāstre kṣatriyārthaṃ vihitaṃ dṛśyate | rājan! kṣatriyo dharmānusāreṇa samudraparyantāṃ pṛthivīṃ bahulāṃ ca sampadaṃ prāpnoti | nareśvara! rājā (kṣatriyaḥ) daṇḍadhārī bhavati | kṣatriyāt paraṃ rakṣākāryaṃ nānyena śakyate kartum |
毗湿摩说道：“噢，坚战（Yudhiṣṭhira），繁荣、王权与国库（kośa），在诸论典（śāstra）中被规定为刹帝利（Kṣatriya）应当承担的职分。噢，坚战王，人们可见：拉克什弥（Lakṣmī，王者之福）、国土与府藏，皆为刹帝利之责而设。刹帝利依其本分之达摩而行，便可合法取得直至环海之地的统治，并聚敛广大财富。噢，人中之主，君王——既为刹帝利——乃执持刑杖（daṇḍa）者；除刹帝利之外，实无他者能真正担负护卫之业。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma asserts that sovereignty, wealth, and the treasury are legitimate and scripturally sanctioned for the Kshatriya when pursued according to dharma, because the king’s defining obligation is protection—upheld through danda (lawful discipline and punishment).
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing King Yudhishthira on rajadharma. Here he explains why kingship, resources, and coercive authority properly belong to the Kshatriya: only such a ruler can effectively protect society and maintain order.