Shloka 58
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
विसर्गो<र्थस्य धर्मार्थ कामहैतुकमुच्यते । चतुर्थ व्यसनाघाते तथैवात्रानुवर्णितम्
bhīṣma uvāca | visargo 'rthasya dharmārtha-kāma-haitukam ucyate | caturthaṁ vyasanāghāte tathaivātrānubarṇitam |
毗湿摩说道：“财富的正当‘支用’，被宣说为有三种宗旨——达摩（正法之责）、阿尔塔（现实之利）、迦摩（合宜之乐）。又另有第四种用途：为抵御灾厄而支出。因此，财富首先应当用来维持并巩固生计与所依附之人，以警觉而自律的行持，去获得尚未获得之物，守护并增长既得之财，并依规矩将增益之财施与堪受之人。其次，为达摩而舍财，是第二种用途；为享乐而用财，是第三种用途；在危难之时为解除困厄而用财，是第四种用途。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth should be applied purposefully: (1) to secure and grow one’s livelihood and responsibilities, including disciplined vigilance and proper giving; (2) to be sacrificed for dharma; (3) to be spent for legitimate enjoyment; and (4) to be used to avert or remedy calamity. Ethical stewardship, not mere accumulation, is the standard.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and right conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of artha-śāstra-like prudence—how a ruler/householder should deploy wealth across duty, welfare, enjoyment, and emergency relief.