Shloka 37
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
न जातु बलवान भूत्वा दुर्बले विश्वसेत् क्वचित् | भारुण्डसदृशा होते निपतन्ति प्रमाद्यत:
na jātu balavān bhūtvā durbale viśvaset kvacit | bhāruṇḍa-sadṛśā hy ete nipatanti pramādyataḥ ||
Vāmadeva said: “Even when he is strong, a king should never place trust in a weak enemy. For such foes, when one grows careless, swoop down like a bhāruṇḍa-bird, striking suddenly.”
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power should not breed complacency: a ruler must remain vigilant and avoid trusting even a seemingly weak enemy, because weakness can conceal opportunism and sudden aggression.
In the Śānti Parva’s rājadharma instruction, the sage Vāmadeva gives counsel on political prudence, warning the king that enemies may exploit moments of negligence and attack abruptly, like a bird of prey.