Shloka 20
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
भृत्यान् भोगैर्द्धिषो दण्डैयों योजयति सो<र्थवान् | एतन्मतिमतां श्रेष्ठ मत॑ं मम यथातथम् | अनयोस्तु निबोध त्वं वचनं वाक्यकण्ठयो:
Arjuna uvāca |
Bhṛtyān bhogair dhiṣo daṇḍaiś ca yojayati so 'rthavān |
Etan matimatāṃ śreṣṭha mataṃ mama yathātatham |
Anayos tu nibodha tvaṃ vacanaṃ vākyakaṇṭhayoḥ ||
阿周那说道：“真正富足者，是以适当的享乐使属下归心，又以刑罚制伏仇敌、使之受制的人。噢，智者之最，此见于我最为相宜，正如其本然。如今且听这二人的言语——他们的话已涌至喉间，意谓二人迫切欲言。”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prosperity and effective rule (artha) require a balanced policy: supporting one’s dependents with appropriate comforts and incentives, while restraining hostile forces through just punishment—both welfare and discipline are necessary instruments of governance.
Arjuna states his view on what constitutes true prosperity and effective control in rulership, then urges the listener to hear the impending statements of “these two,” who are portrayed as eager to speak (their words ‘at the throat’).