Shloka 34
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
विधानाक्रम्य मित्राणि विधानमुपकल्पयेत् । सामभेदान् विरोधार्थ विधानमुपकल्पयेत्
vidhānākramya mitrāṇi vidhānam upakalpayet | sāmabhedān virodhārtha vidhānam upakalpayet |
Bhishma said: “Having first secured the proper arrangements for one’s own protection with the support and counsel of trusted friends, one should then deliberate on what the situation demands and adopt the fitting course—conciliation, division, or, if necessary, open conflict—so that the intended objective is achieved.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
First secure one’s own safety and preparedness through orderly planning and trusted counsel; then choose the appropriate political-ethical means—conciliation, division, or conflict—according to what the situation truly requires.
In the Shanti Parva discourse on rajadharma, Bhishma instructs the listener on prudent governance: consult allies, establish protective arrangements, and only then decide among diplomatic or forceful measures based on circumstances.