Shloka 2
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
अधर्मयुक्तो विजयो हाप्रुवो5स्वर्ग्य एव च । सादयत्येष राजानं महीं च भरतर्षभ,अधर्मसे पायी हुई विजय स्वर्गसे गिरानेवाली और अस्थायी होती है। भरतश्रेष्ठ! ऐसी विजय राजा और राज्य दोनोंका पतन कर देती है
adharmayukto vijayo hāpruvo'svargya eva ca | sādayatyeṣa rājānaṃ mahīṃ ca bharatarṣabha ||
Bhishma said: “A victory joined with adharma is unstable and brings no true gain; it is also unheavenly, leading one away from higher worlds. O bull among the Bharatas, such a victory ruins the king and brings the realm itself to collapse.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory gained through adharma is inherently unstable and spiritually harmful; it ultimately destroys both the ruler and the realm, so righteous means are essential to lasting success and legitimate rule.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and dharma, Bhishma warns the listener (addressed as ‘Bharatarshabha’) that conquest achieved by unrighteous methods does not endure and leads to the downfall of the king and the kingdom.