Shloka 41
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
मायाविभेदानुपसर्जनानि तथैव पापं न यशःप्रयोगात् । आप्तैर्मनुष्यैरुपचारयेत पुरेषु राष्ट्रेषु च सम्प्रयुक्तान्
bhīṣma uvāca |
māyā-vibhedānupasarjanāni tathaiva pāpaṁ na yaśaḥ-prayogāt |
āptair manuṣyair upacārayet pureṣu rāṣṭreṣu ca samprayuktān ||
Bhishma said: A king should, through trusted agents, set in motion various stratagems—creating divisions and mutual hostility within an enemy’s cities and provinces. He may also station spies there in disguise. Yet, for the protection of his own good name, he should ensure that no sinful act such as theft or secret assassination is carried out from his side under the pretext of policy.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches a balance in rājadharma: a king may use strategic deception—such as sowing dissension and deploying spies—against enemies, but must restrain himself from intrinsically sinful acts (e.g., theft, covert murder) so that policy does not destroy moral legitimacy and public honor (yaśas).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance and security. Here he outlines covert measures to weaken hostile states from within, while simultaneously warning that the king must protect his own reputation by forbidding criminal excesses committed in the name of strategy.