Shloka 15
Bṛhaspati’s Counsel on Contentment
Santoṣa), Restraint, and Adroha (Non-injury
धर्मवर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मत:ः । पुत्रसंक्रामितश्री श्व वने वन्येन वर्तयन्
dharmavartmani saṁsthāpya prajā varteta dharmataḥ | putrasaṅkrāmitśrīḥ śva vane vanyena vartayan ||
“既已使民众安立于法之道，当令其依正义而行。纵然自身的荣华已传与其子，亦当继续居于林野，以山林所产自养——使人生由戒律与职责所塑，而非由占有与财物所驱。”
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or elder) should first anchor society in dharma; then, even after transferring wealth and authority to the next generation, one should uphold a disciplined, non-possessive life—symbolized by living in the forest on simple, wild sustenance.
Devastāna articulates a normative instruction about righteous governance and life-stages: establish the subjects in dharma, and after handing over prosperity to one’s son, continue a restrained forest-based mode of living, emphasizing duty over enjoyment.