Shloka 34
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
अमात्यरक्षा प्रणिधी राजपुत्रस्य लक्षणम् | चारश्न विविधोपाय: प्रणिधेय: पृथग्विध:
amātya-rakṣā praṇidhī rāja-putrasya lakṣaṇam | cāraś ca vividha-upāyaḥ praṇidheyaḥ pṛthag-vidhaḥ ||
ভীষ্মে ক’লে—ৰাজনীতি-শাস্ত্ৰত মন্ত্ৰীসকলৰ ৰক্ষা, প্ৰণিধি (বিশ্বাসযোগ্য দূত/কৰ্মচাৰী), ৰাজপুত্ৰৰ লক্ষণ, গুপ্তচৰৰ বিচৰণৰ নানাবিধ উপায় আৰু বিভিন্ন স্থানত বিভিন্ন প্ৰকাৰ গুপ্তচৰৰ নিয়োগ—এই সকলো বিধান আছে; লগতে সাম, দান, ভেদ, দণ্ড আৰু উপেক্ষা—এই পাঁচ উপায়ো সম্পূৰ্ণৰূপে প্ৰতিপাদিত।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s stability depends on disciplined governance: protect ministers from enemy influence, deploy reliable envoys/operatives, recognize the qualities of a capable prince, and maintain a well-structured intelligence network. Policy should be applied through the five classical means—conciliation, inducement, division, punishment, and strategic non-engagement—according to context.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on practical kingship. Here he summarizes key topics of political science: ministerial security, appointment of agents and spies, criteria for a prince, and the systematic use of the five upāyas in administration and diplomacy.