Shloka 61
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यत: शड़्का भवेच्चापि भृत्यतो5थापि मन्त्रित: । पौरेभ्यो नृपतेर्वापि स्वाधीनान् कारयीत तान्
yataḥ śaṅkā bhavec cāpi bhṛtyato 'thāpi mantritaḥ | paurebhyo nṛpater vāpi svādhīnān kārayīta tān ||
Bhishma said: If a king comes to harbor suspicion—whether about a servant, a minister, the townspeople, or even a neighboring ruler—he should, by timely and appropriate measures, bring all such parties under his control.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not ignore suspicion within the state; through timely, proportionate measures he should secure loyalty and compliance from servants, ministers, citizens, and even neighboring powers, so that the realm remains stable and protected.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance: when doubts arise about key groups around the king, the king should act promptly to bring them under effective control.