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:,राजा स्वयं बलवान् होकर भी कभी अपने दुर्बल शत्रुका विश्वास न करे; क्योंकि ये असावधानीकी दशामें बाज पक्षीकी तरह झपट्टा मारते हैं
na jātu balavān bhūtvā durbale viśvaset kvacit | bhāruṇḍa-sadṛśā hy ete nipatanti pramādyataḥ ||
Dijo Vāmadeva: «Aun siendo fuerte, un rey no debe confiar jamás en un enemigo débil. Pues tales adversarios, cuando uno se descuida, se abalanzan como el ave bhāruṇḍa, golpeando de improviso».
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.