Shloka 36
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
न बहूनभियुञ्जीत यौगपद्येन शात्रवान् । साम्ना दानेन भेदेन दण्डेन च पुरंदर
na bahūn abhiyuñjīta yaugapadyena śātravān | sāmnā dānena bhedena daṇḍena ca puraṃdara ||
Bhīṣma said: “O Puraṃdara, one should not launch an attack against many enemies all at once. Rather, by skillfully applying conciliation, gifts, division, and punishment, one should subdue the enemies one by one, and then crush whatever hostile force remains. Even a powerful, intelligent king should not begin the task of crushing all enemies simultaneously.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should avoid overextension: do not confront multiple enemies simultaneously; instead apply the four upāyas—conciliation, gifts, division, and punishment—strategically to neutralize foes one by one.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the ruler (addressed as Puraṃdara) on practical policy: how to manage hostile powers through calibrated diplomacy and force rather than reckless, simultaneous warfare.