Shloka 21
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
कुरुनन्दन! तुम सभी कार्योंमें सरलता एवं कोमलताका अवलम्बन करना, परंतु नीतिशास्त्रकी आलोचनासे यह ज्ञात होता है कि अपने छिद्र, अपनी मन्त्रणा तथा अपने कार्य-यकौशल--इन तीन बातोंको गुप्त रखनेमें सरलताका अवलम्बन करना उचित नहीं है ।। मृदुर्हि राजा सततं लड्घयो भवति सर्वशः । तीक्ष्णाच्चोद्विजते लोकस्तस्मादुभयमाश्रय,जो राजा सदा सब प्रकारसे कोमलतापूर्ण बर्ताव करने वाला ही होता है, उसकी आज्ञाका लोग उल्लघंन कर जाते हैं, और केवल कठोर बर्ताव करनेसे भी सब लोग उद्विग्न हो उठते हैं; अतः तुम आवश्यकतानुसार कठोरता और कोमलता दोनोंका अवलम्बन करो
kurunandana! tvaṁ sarvakāryeṣu saralatāṁ ca mṛdutāṁ cāvalambasva; nītiśāstrālocanayā tu jñāyate—svacchidraṁ svamantraṇāṁ svakārya-yakauśalaṁ ca, etāni trīṇi guhyāni kartum saralatā na yuktā. mṛdur hi rājā satataṁ laṅghyo bhavati sarvaśaḥ; tīkṣṇāc codvijate lokas tasmād ubhayam āśraya.
Bhīṣma said: “O descendant of Kuru, in all undertakings you should generally rely on straightforwardness and gentleness. Yet political wisdom shows it is not proper to be ‘simple’ in keeping three things concealed—your own vulnerabilities, your counsel, and your practical skill in executing plans. For a king who is always mild is liable to be disregarded and his commands transgressed; but if he is only harsh, the people become alarmed and resentful. Therefore, adopt both—gentleness and severity—according to what the situation requires.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should balance gentleness with necessary severity. Straightforwardness is good in general conduct, but not in matters that must remain confidential—one’s vulnerabilities, strategic counsel, and operational skill—because excessive softness invites disobedience while excessive harshness alienates the people.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of governance after the war, emphasizing practical political wisdom: maintain public benevolence, but protect state secrets and enforce authority with measured firmness.