Shloka 40
दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च
Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food
सो<यं कृत्स्नो ब्राह्मणार्थो राजार्थश्वाप्पसंशय: । राजा हि धर्मकुशल: प्रथमं भूतिलक्षणम्
so ’yaṁ kṛtsno brāhmaṇārtho rājārthaś cāpy asaṁśayaḥ | rājā hi dharmakuśalaḥ prathamaṁ bhūtilakṣaṇam ||
毗湿摩说道：“此一切叙述，皆为婆罗门之益，亦为国王之益——对此毫无疑惑。因为国王通达达摩，乃是人民富庶昌盛、光辉显耀将要兴起的最先、最重要的征兆。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A society’s prosperity is rooted in righteous governance: the foremost indicator of public welfare is a ruler who is competent and steady in dharma. The instruction is framed as beneficial both to Brahmins (custodians of learning and ritual order) and to kings (agents of protection and administration).
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his counsel on dharma. Here he explicitly states that the discourse is directed to the welfare of both Brahmins and rulers, and he highlights a practical criterion of flourishing: a king who understands and upholds dharma.