Shloka 22
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
राष्ट्रमप्यतिदुग्धं हि न कर्म कुरुते महत् । यो राष्ट्रमनुगृह्नाति परिरक्षन् स्वयं नूप:
rāṣṭram apy atidugdhaṃ hi na karma kurute mahat | yo rāṣṭram anugṛhṇāti parirakṣan svayaṃ nūpaḥ ||
即便一个被“过度挤奶”的国度——税赋过重、被榨干耗尽——也无法成就大业。然而，能施惠于国土、以守护为己任的君王，必使其繁荣昌盛，足以担当宏伟事业。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not drain the realm through excessive extraction; a kingdom weakened by over-taxation cannot achieve great ends. By personally protecting and supporting the people, the king strengthens the state and makes prosperity and major accomplishments possible.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on ethical governance. He uses the image of an over-milked cow to warn that a heavily exploited kingdom loses its capacity, whereas a protective and benevolent king sustains the realm’s strength.