'How should a king behave when he is without money in his treasury, depleted army, his ministers not loyal to him as they tell others what is happening in the meetings', asked Yudhishthira.
To him, Bheeshma replied, 'the morality or the standards that are to be followed in ordinary circumstances is different from those that are to be followed in dire circumstances.
The king should always have access to his treasury, army, ministers, servants etc. So a king should in no circumstances even think of losing them.
The treasury and the army are like his two arms. Of these two if he has treasury he can maintain an army. So treasury is of utmost importance to him.
A king should see to it that he fills up the treasury in lawful means in ordinary times. But in dire circumstances, he can resort to dire measures.
Since a king is the one who supports the kingdom, the kingdom should support a king in his time of need.
In times of distress, he could resort to filling his treasury by taking whatever measure one needs to take even if it appears to be outright immoral.
Suppose a big tree is to be felled down, it cannot be felled down without causing disturbance or damage to other trees or living creatures living around it.
First, we have to cut down the branches. These branches may be entangled with the branches of other trees in the vicinity. When the branches fall down they may kill any animal living underneath it.
Likewise while filling his treasury a king may resort to such measures which are not always conducive to morality, virtue, or dharma.
But if a king is taken to excessive adherence to dharma, he may have to lose his kingdom or his subjects may have to suffer.
Each one has its proper place.
A king in dire needs can obtain wealth in not so straight means and in times of normalcy give it back to the people.
In this way, his people will not censure him and he will also not be liable for adharma.
A king that has a well-filled treasury obtains success here in this life. He also earns religious merit doing sacrifices and giving of his wealth.
In ordinary circumstances, his treasury should be filled up by righteous means and in dire circumstances, his treasury should be filled by means that may not be approved by the scriptures. But by following this path a king does not earn sin.
To him, Bheeshma replied, 'the morality or the standards that are to be followed in ordinary circumstances is different from those that are to be followed in dire circumstances.
The king should always have access to his treasury, army, ministers, servants etc. So a king should in no circumstances even think of losing them.
The treasury and the army are like his two arms. Of these two if he has treasury he can maintain an army. So treasury is of utmost importance to him.
A king should see to it that he fills up the treasury in lawful means in ordinary times. But in dire circumstances, he can resort to dire measures.
Since a king is the one who supports the kingdom, the kingdom should support a king in his time of need.
In times of distress, he could resort to filling his treasury by taking whatever measure one needs to take even if it appears to be outright immoral.
Suppose a big tree is to be felled down, it cannot be felled down without causing disturbance or damage to other trees or living creatures living around it.
First, we have to cut down the branches. These branches may be entangled with the branches of other trees in the vicinity. When the branches fall down they may kill any animal living underneath it.
Likewise while filling his treasury a king may resort to such measures which are not always conducive to morality, virtue, or dharma.
But if a king is taken to excessive adherence to dharma, he may have to lose his kingdom or his subjects may have to suffer.
Each one has its proper place.
A king in dire needs can obtain wealth in not so straight means and in times of normalcy give it back to the people.
In this way, his people will not censure him and he will also not be liable for adharma.
A king that has a well-filled treasury obtains success here in this life. He also earns religious merit doing sacrifices and giving of his wealth.
In ordinary circumstances, his treasury should be filled up by righteous means and in dire circumstances, his treasury should be filled by means that may not be approved by the scriptures. But by following this path a king does not earn sin.
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