Shloka 40
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
नदीके मार्गोंपर जो पुल पड़ते हों उन सबको तुड़वा दे। शत्रुके मार्गमें जो जलाशय हों, उनका सारा जल इधर-उधर बहा दे। जो जल बहाया न जा सके, उसे दूषित कर दे, जिससे वह पीनेयोग्य न रह जाय ।।
nadīke mārgopari yo pulāḥ patanti tān sarvān tuḍavā de | śatror mārgasthā ye jalāśayāḥ syuḥ teṣāṃ sarvaṃ jalam itas-tataḥ pravāhaya | yad vāri pravāhayituṃ na śakyate tad dūṣaya, yathā tat peyam na bhavet || tadātvenāyatībhiś ca nivased bhūmy-anantaram | pratīghātaṃ parasya yuddhe mitra-kārye ’py upasthite vartamāne ’thavā bhaviṣyati sadā tyaktvā śatroḥ śatrum āśritya tiṣṭhet yaḥ rājya-bhūmi-nikaṭa-nivāsī yuddhe ca parasya pratīghātāya sajjaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “Break down all bridges that lie along the river routes. Drain away the water from reservoirs that stand on the enemy’s line of march. If the water cannot be diverted, contaminate it so that it is no longer fit to drink. And whether for the present moment or for the future, one should take up residence close to the frontier-land: even if a friend’s business arises now or later, set it aside and seek shelter with the enemy of one’s enemy—someone who lives near the border of the kingdom and stands ready to strike the foe in battle.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma outlines hard-edged measures of rajadharma in wartime: deny the enemy mobility and supplies (bridges and water), and secure advantage through pragmatic alliances—taking refuge with the foe’s foe, especially a border-adjacent power ready to strike.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on governance and security. Here he gives tactical counsel for confronting an enemy: sabotage infrastructure and water sources along the enemy’s march, and, even at the cost of sidelining a friend’s request, align with a strategically placed rival of the enemy to enable an effective counterattack.