Shloka 10
Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)
भीष्म उवाच क्षिप्रं वा संधिकाम: स्यात् क्षिप्रं वा तीक्षणविक्रम: । तदापनयनं क्षिप्रमेतावत् साम्परायिकम्
bhīṣma uvāca | kṣipraṃ vā sandhikāmaḥ syāt kṣipraṃ vā tīkṣṇavikramaḥ | tad-āpānayanaṃ kṣipram etāvat sāmparāyikam ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh rey, en tal situación el gobernante debe o bien buscar con prontitud un acuerdo (por alianza y negociación), o bien, con un valor agudo y decisivo, expulsar rápidamente al enemigo del reino. Si, al emprender ese esfuerzo necesario, sobreviene la muerte, esa muerte se vuelve auspiciosa para el más allá.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not remain indecisive in crisis: he should promptly choose either peace through negotiation (sandhi) or decisive force to expel the enemy. Even if death occurs while fulfilling this duty, it is considered spiritually auspicious because it is undertaken for righteous protection of the realm.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rājadharma, he advises the king on how to respond when the kingdom is threatened: act quickly—either secure a settlement or display resolute valor to remove the enemy—emphasizing duty-bound action over hesitation.