Shloka 37
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
न च क्षान्तेन ते नित्यं भाव्यं पुत्र समन््ततः । अधर्मो हि मृदू राजा क्षमावानिव कुज्जर:
na ca kṣāntena te nityaṃ bhāvyaṃ putra samantataḥ | adharmo hi mṛdū rājā kṣamāvān iva kuñjaraḥ ||
قال بهيشما: «ولا ينبغي لك يا بُنيّ أن تسلك في كل وقتٍ ومن كل وجهٍ على مجرد الحِلم وحده. فالملك الذي لا يكون إلا ليّنًا يصير مركبًا للأدهرما—كالفيل المروّض المطيع الذي يُساق إلى أي جهة.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Forbearance is a virtue, but a ruler must not apply it indiscriminately; excessive softness enables adharma. Effective kingship requires balanced firmness—patience tempered by timely discipline.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma counsels the listener (addressed as “son”) that constant, universal tolerance is unsuitable for a king, illustrating with the image of a compliant elephant that can be misused.