Shloka 20
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
भूमिवर्ज धनं राजा जित्वा राजन् महाहवे । अपि चान्नौषधी: शश्वदाजहार प्रतर्दन:
bhūmivarjaṃ dhanaṃ rājā jitvā rājan mahāhave | api cānnauṣadhīḥ śaśvad ājahāra pratardanaḥ ||
ভীষ্মে ক’লে—হে ৰাজন! পূৰ্বকালত ৰজা প্ৰতর্দনে মহাযুদ্ধত জয় লাভ কৰি, ভূমি এৰি বাকী ধন লৈছিল; আৰু তেওঁ সদায় অন্ন আৰু ঔষধিৰ সঞ্চয়ো নিজৰ ৰাজধানীত লৈ আহিছিল।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory should be tempered by restraint: a righteous ruler may secure movable resources needed for governance while avoiding needless devastation or dispossession of the conquered land, thereby limiting suffering and preserving stability.
Bhishma cites an earlier example: King Pratardana wins a major battle and, instead of seizing the defeated king’s territory, takes the remaining wealth along with supplies of grain and medicinal herbs to his own capital.