Shloka 31
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
स्थानानि शड़्कितानां च नित्यमेव विवर्जयेत् । न च तेष्वाश्वसेद् राजा जाग्रतीह निराकृता:
sthānāni śaṅkitānāṁ ca nityam eva vivarjayet | na ca teṣv āśvased rājā jāgratīha nirākṛtāḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “A king should always avoid the places frequented by those who have become suspicious (or whose suspicion has been aroused). Nor should the king ever place trust in them; for in this world, enemies who have been rejected or harmed remain ever watchful, intent on taking revenge.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In rājadharma, prudence is a duty: a ruler should avoid proximity to those whose suspicion has been stirred and should not rely on them, because injured or rejected enemies remain vigilant for retaliation.
During the Śānti Parva instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance—specifically, how a king should manage risk from hostile or distrustful persons and prevent revenge-driven threats.