Shloka 20
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
भूमिवर्ज धनं राजा जित्वा राजन् महाहवे । अपि चान्नौषधी: शश्वदाजहार प्रतर्दन:,राजन! पूर्वकालमें राजा प्रतर्दन महासमरमें विजय प्राप्त करके पराजित राजाकी भूमिको छोड़कर शेष सारा धन, अन्न एवं औषध अपनी राजधानीमें ले आये
bhūmivarjaṃ dhanaṃ rājā jitvā rājan mahāhave | api cānnauṣadhīḥ śaśvad ājahāra pratardanaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O king, having won a great battle, King Pratardana carried off the wealth—leaving aside the land itself. Indeed, he continually brought to his own capital the stores of grain and medicinal herbs as well.” The passage highlights a ruler’s restraint after victory: taking movable resources while sparing the conquered territory, suggesting a policy aimed at limiting harm and maintaining order rather than annihilating the defeated realm.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory should be tempered by restraint: a righteous ruler may secure movable resources needed for governance while avoiding needless devastation or dispossession of the conquered land, thereby limiting suffering and preserving stability.
Bhishma cites an earlier example: King Pratardana wins a major battle and, instead of seizing the defeated king’s territory, takes the remaining wealth along with supplies of grain and medicinal herbs to his own capital.