Shloka 8
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 29 — Suśarmā’s Counsel and the Coordinated Goharaṇa Plan
तस्माद् बल॑ च कोषश्न नीतिश्लापि विधीयताम् । यथा कालोदये प्राप्ते सम्यक् तैः संदधामहे,“अत: इस समय तुम्हें अपनी सेना, कोष और नीति ऐसी बनायी रखनी चाहिये, जिससे समय आनेपर हम उनके साथ यथावत् सन्धि (मेल अथवा बाण-संधान) कर सकें
tasmād balaṃ ca kośaś ca nītiś ca api vidhīyatām | yathā kālodaye prāpte samyak taiḥ saṃdadhāmahe ||
Por ello, mantén en buen orden tu fuerza militar, tu tesoro y tu arte de gobierno, para que, cuando amanezca el tiempo oportuno, podamos tratar con ellos como convenga: ya sea sellando una alianza prudente, ya sea entrando en combate con fuerza bien dirigida.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or leader) must maintain three pillars—force (bala), resources (kośa), and policy (nīti)—in readiness, so that when the opportune time arrives (kālodaya) one can respond ethically and effectively, choosing peace or war as circumstances demand.
Vaiśampāyana reports counsel urging preparedness: keep the army, treasury, and political strategy well-ordered now, so that later—when the decisive moment comes—‘we’ can properly engage the opposing side, either by making a suitable compact or by entering conflict with effective coordination.