Shloka 5
Kāpavya-carita (कापव्यचरित) — Reforming Dasyus through Regulated Rāja-Dharma
आकाड़क्षन्नात्मनो राज्यं राज्ये स्थितिमकोपयन् । अदत्तमेवाददीत दातुर्वित्तं ममेति च
Ākāṅkṣann ātmano rājyaṃ rājye sthitim akopayan | adattam evādadīta dātur vittaṃ mameti ca ||
毗湿摩说道：“欲保其国者，不当扰乱既定的政令纲纪；然而为护佑百姓——如婆罗门及诸臣民——君王可视富者之财为国之所有（‘此为我有’），即便非其自愿奉献，亦可征取。其伦理要旨在于：强制征敛唯可作为护民与安邦之责而行，绝非出于私欲贪婪，亦不可任意压迫。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s right to collect or even forcibly requisition wealth is ethically grounded only in rajadharma—maintaining stability and protecting the people. It must not ‘disturb the order’ (sthitim akopayan) and must be aimed at public protection rather than personal desire.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance: when the welfare and protection of the subjects require resources, the king may treat the wealth of the rich as belonging to the realm and take it even if not voluntarily offered—provided he preserves administrative order and acts for protection.