Shloka 6
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
नित्यमुद्यतदण्ड: स्यान्नित्यं विवृतपौरुष: । अच्छिद्रश्छिद्रदर्शी स्थात् परेषां विवरानुग:,'राजाको सर्वदा दण्ड देनेके लिये उद्यत रहना चाहिये और सदा ही पुरुषार्थ प्रकट करना चाहिये। राजा अपना छिद्र--अपनी दुर्बलता प्रकट न होने दे; परंतु दूसरोंके छिद्र या दुर्बलतापर सदा ही दृष्टि रखे और यदि शत्रुओंकी निर्बलताका पता चल जाय तो उनपर आक्रमण कर दे
nityam udyatadaṇḍaḥ syān nityaṁ vivṛtapauruṣaḥ | acchidraś chidradarśī sthāt pareṣāṁ vivarānugaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: A king should always be ready to wield punishment and should constantly display resolute manliness and initiative. He should keep his own vulnerabilities from being exposed, yet remain keen to detect the weaknesses of others; and once an enemy’s weak point is discovered, he should press into that opening and strike.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches rājadharma in a realist key: a ruler must maintain constant readiness to enforce law (daṇḍa), project decisive strength, conceal personal vulnerabilities, and vigilantly identify and exploit an adversary’s weak points to protect the realm.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a didactic instruction on kingship is being stated: the king’s posture is described as ever-prepared for punishment and strategy—guarding his own weaknesses while watching for openings in opponents.