Shloka 53
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
“शत्रु ककणाजनक वचन बोल रहा हो तो भी उसे मारे बिना न छोड़े। जिसने पहले अपना अपकार किया हो, उसको अवश्य मार डाले और उसमें दु:ख न माने ।। संग्रहानुग्रहे यत्न: सदा कार्योडनसूयता । निग्रहश्चापि यत्नेन कर्तव्यो भूतिमिच्छता,'ऐश्वर्यकी इच्छा रखनेवाला राजा दोषदृष्टिका परित्याग करके सदा लोगोंको अपने पक्षमें मिलाये रखने तथा दूसरोंपर अनुग्रह करनेके लिये यत्नशील बना रहे और शत्रुओंका दमन भी प्रयत्नपूर्वक करे
bhīṣma uvāca | saṅgrahānugrahe yatnaḥ sadā kāryo 'n-asūyatā | nigrahaś cāpi yatnena kartavyo bhūtim icchatā ||
Bhishma said: Even if an enemy speaks reassuring words, he should not be let go without being slain. One who has previously done harm must surely be struck down, and it should not be counted as grief. A king who seeks prosperity and sovereign power should abandon fault-finding and envy, always striving to win and keep people on his side through support and favor; and with deliberate effort he should also restrain and subdue enemies.
भीष्म उवाच