Shloka 40
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
अतः बुद्धिमान् राजा सदा उन वैश्योंपर यत्नपूर्वक प्रेमभाव बनाये रखे। सावधानी रखकर उनके साथ दयालुताका बर्ताव करे और उनपर हलके कर लगावे ।।
ataḥ buddhimān rājā sadā vaiśyān prati yatnapūrvakaṁ premabhāvaṁ dhārayet | sāvadhānaḥ teṣu dayālutayā varteta ca teṣāṁ laghuṁ karaṁ vidadhyāt || sarvatra kṣemacaraṇaṁ sulabhaṁ nāma gomiṣu | na hātaḥ sadṛśaṁ kiñcid varaṁ asti yudhiṣṭhira ||
毗湿摩言：因此，明智之王应当恒常用心，保持对吠舍（Vaishya）之善意。应以谨慎与慈悯待之，只征收轻税。对于畜牧与牧牛之人，使其在四方安然往来、兴业昌盛之道，原可轻易筹措；而噢，坚战（Yudhishthira）啊，对国王而言，没有比确保吠舍能在国中各处安稳行走、安乐经营更为有利之事。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s prosperity depends on protecting and nurturing the productive classes (especially Vaishyas) through goodwill, compassionate administration, and moderate taxation, so they can move and work safely across the kingdom.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on statecraft, emphasizing policies that secure the livelihood and safe movement of Vaishyas and cattle-based wealth, presenting this as among the king’s highest practical duties.