साम्ना भेदेन दानेन दण्डेनेति चतुर्विधम् | विषमस्थं समस्थं॑ च चक्षुध्यनिन रक्षति
sāmnā bhedena dānena daṇḍeneti caturvidham | viṣamasthaṃ samasthaṃ ca cakṣurdhyānena rakṣati ||
সাম, ভেদ, দান ও দণ্ড—এই চার উপায়। বিবেকদৃষ্টিতে সে বিষম আচরণে স্থিত ব্যক্তিকে সংযত করে, সমদর্শীকে রক্ষা করে, এবং চিন্তাপূর্বক চোখসহ ইন্দ্রিয়সমূহকে কুপথে যেতে বাধা দেয়।
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Ethical governance and self-governance both require appropriate means: conciliation, strategic division, gifts, and punishment. Alongside these external measures, inner vigilance (dhyāna/discernment) is essential to protect the impartial person and to restrain the senses from drifting into harmful conduct.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, a Brāhmaṇa speaker explains principles of nīti: how one corrects those who act unjustly and safeguards the balanced-minded, emphasizing that reflective awareness also functions as a guard over the senses.