Shloka 19
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यात्रायां यदि विज्ञातमनाक्रन्दमनन्तरम् | व्यासक्तं च प्रमत्तं च दुर्बलं च विचक्षण:
bhīṣma uvāca | yātrāyāṃ yadi vijñātam anākrandam anantaram | vyāsaktaṃ ca pramattaṃ ca durbalaṃ ca vicakṣaṇaḥ ||
Bhishma said: When setting out on a campaign, a discerning king should first ascertain the enemy’s condition without delay. If the foe is without allies and support, entangled elsewhere, careless, and weak—and if one’s own forces are strong—then a capable and valiant ruler should order the army to march, after first securing his capital and rear.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A righteous and prudent ruler should not rush into war: first gather reliable intelligence, attack only when the enemy is strategically vulnerable, and ensure one’s own homeland and capital are secured before launching an offensive.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira principles of campaign-planning—evaluating the enemy’s weakness and one’s own strength, and prioritizing internal security before marching against an opponent.