Shloka 31
न चोद्योगेन बुद्धया वा रूपद्रव्येण वा पुन: । भेदाच्चैव प्रदानाच्च भिद्यन्ते रिपुभिर्गणा:,जाति और कुलमें सभी एक समान हो सकते हैं; परंतु उद्योग, बुद्धि और रूप- सम्पत्तिमें सबका एक-सा होना सम्भव नहीं है। शत्रुलोग गणराज्यके लोगोंमें भेदबुद्धि पैदा करके तथा उनमेंसे कुछ लोगोंको धन देकर भी समूचे संघमें फूट डाल देते हैं; अतः संघबद्ध रहना ही गणराज्यके नागरिकोंका महान् आश्रय है
na codyogena buddhayā vā rūpadravyeṇa vā punaḥ | bhedāc caiva pradānāc ca bhidyante ripubhir gaṇāḥ ||
Bhishma said: Even when people are alike by birth and lineage, they cannot all be the same in enterprise, intelligence, or in appearance and wealth. Enemies exploit these differences: by sowing dissension and by bribing some members, they fracture a republic’s united body. Therefore, for a gaṇa (republic/oligarchic confederacy), steadfast unity is the citizens’ greatest refuge and strength.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unity is the strongest protection for a republic or collective polity. Since people naturally differ in effort, intelligence, and wealth, enemies can exploit these differences through factionalism and bribery; therefore, maintaining solidarity is essential.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and social order, Bhishma advises about the vulnerabilities of a gaṇa (republic/assembly). He explains how adversaries destabilize such polities by creating internal divisions and buying off members.