Shloka 15
Kośa-saṃjanana and Subtle Dharma
Treasury Formation and Fine-Grained Ethics
यथा सद्धिः परादानमहिंसा दस्युभि: कृता । अनुरज्यन्ति भूतानि समयदिषु दस्युषु
yathā saddhiḥ parādānam ahiṃsā dasyubhiḥ kṛtā | anurajyanti bhūtāni samayādiṣu dasyuṣu ||
毗湿摩说道：“正如盗贼之中亦可有其约法：所谓‘良盗’夺人财物，却克制不施暴。由此，众生甚至会对那些遵守约定界限与惯例的盗贼生出亲近之情。因为守住自制之界者，亦能以其方式为许多人所容纳，乃至成为庇护。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights that even in morally compromised groups, restraint and adherence to agreed limits (samaya/maryādā) are recognized and can win social acceptance. The verse underscores the ethical value of non-violence and self-limitation as stabilizing forces in society.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma uses an illustrative example: some ‘good’ robbers steal but avoid violence and respect certain conventions. Because of this restraint, people may even feel goodwill toward them, acknowledging the practical protection or order such restraint can create.