Shloka 39
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
यदा बहुविधां वृद्धि मन्येत प्रतिलोमत: । तदा विवृत्य प्रहरेद् दस्यूनामविचारयन्
yadā bahuvidhāṁ vṛddhiṁ manyeta pratilomataḥ | tadā vivṛtya prahared dasyūnām avicārayan |
قال بهيشما: «إذا رأى الملك أن رخاءه يزداد بوجوه شتى—على خلاف ما كان العدو يتوقع—فعليه، من غير تردّد آخر، أن ينهض علنًا بعملٍ حاسم، فيضرب اللصوص والناهِبين ضربًا لا تردد فيه.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma includes maintaining public safety: when conditions are favorable and his strength is secure, he should act decisively and openly to suppress banditry, rather than delaying through indecision.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on rājadharma, he advises the ruler about timing and resolve: upon recognizing his own rising advantage, the king should commence direct action against robbers and marauders to restore order.