Shloka 37
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
संधिश्ष त्रिविधाभिख्यो हीनो मध्यस्तथोत्तम: । भयसत्कारवित्ताख्य॑ कार्त्स्न्येन परिवर्णितम्
sandhiś ca trividho ’bhikhyo hīno madhyas tathottamaḥ | bhaya-satkāra-vittākhyāḥ kārtsnyena parivarṇitam ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Los tratados describen tres clases de alianza (sandhi): inferior, media y superior. Se las conoce, respectivamente, como la alianza hecha por temor, la alianza hecha por honor y consideración, y la alianza hecha mediante riqueza o ventaja material. Sus rasgos han sido expuestos con detalle en los textos autorizados.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma classifies political alliances into three ethical-political types—fear-based (inferior), honor-based (middling), and wealth/advantage-based (superior)—highlighting that motives behind peace determine its quality and stability.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira principles of diplomacy, explaining how alliances are categorized in statecraft literature and what names and ranks they receive.