Shloka 11
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
ततस्तान् भेदयित्वा तु परस्परविवक्षितान् | भुज्जीत सान्त्वयंश्वैव यथासुखमयत्नत:
tatas tān bhedayitvā tu paraspara-vivakṣitān | bhuñjīta sāntvayaṁś caiva yathā-sukham ayatnataḥ ||
Bhishma said: “Then, having sown dissension among those people who are mutually consulting and forming plans, the king should proceed to ‘enjoy’ (i.e., secure and administer) his gains—while also offering them conciliatory assurances—so that, without strenuous effort, he may maintain his own comfort and advantage.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma outlines a pragmatic political tactic: weaken potentially coordinated opposition by creating internal divisions (bheda), while simultaneously keeping people calm through reassurance and conciliatory speech (sāntvana), thereby allowing the ruler to secure outcomes with minimal exertion.
In Bhishma’s instruction on kingship and governance in the Shanti Parva, he advises the king on how to handle groups who are consulting together: first disrupt their unity, then pacify them with gentle assurances, and thus maintain control and benefit comfortably.