Shanti Parva Adhyaya 131 Shloka 35 - Mahabharata | Chinese | Vedapath

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Shloka 35

Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)

Devanagari script

राज्ञ: कोशबलं मूलं कोशमूलं पुनर्बलम्‌ । तन्मूलं सर्वधर्माणां धर्ममूला: पुनः प्रजा:

Transliteration

rājñaḥ kośabalaṃ mūlaṃ kośamūlaṃ punar balam | tanmūlaṃ sarvadharmāṇāṃ dharmamūlāḥ punaḥ prajāḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“对国王而言，权势之根在于国库（kośa）与军队；而军队又以国库为根。凭此力量，方能护持一切达摩；而达摩又是百姓安定与繁荣的根本。”

Word by Word

राज्ञःof the king

कोशबलम्treasury and army (resources and force)

मूलम्the root/foundation

कोशमूलम्having the treasury as its root; treasury-rooted

पुनःagain; further

बलम्strength; army/force

तत्that (i.e., that force/army)

मूलम्the root/foundation

सर्वधर्माणाम्of all dharmas (duties/laws)

धर्ममूलाःhaving dharma as their root; rooted in dharma

पुनःagain; further

प्रजाःthe subjects/people

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

king (rājā)

treasury (kośa)

army/force (bala)

dharma

subjects/people (prajāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma presents a chain of foundations in kingship: the king’s effective power depends on treasury and army; the army depends on financial resources; that strength enables the safeguarding of dharma; and dharma is the ultimate foundation for the well-being and continuity of the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance. Here he emphasizes that moral order (dharma) requires protection, and such protection in a kingdom relies on material capacity—especially a well-maintained treasury supporting the army.