Shloka 6
उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः
Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment
अमित्रा एव राजानं भेदेनोपचरन्त्युत । तां राजा निकृतिं जानन् यथामित्रान् प्रबाधते
amitrā eva rājānaṃ bhedenopacaranti ca | tāṃ rājā nikṛtiṃ jñātvā yathāmitrān prabādhate ||
Bhīṣma dit : Ceux qui ne sont pas de véritables amis—mais des ennemis secrets—s’approchent d’un roi avec un service de façade tout en s’employant à semer la division dans son cercle intérieur. Reconnaissant cette tromperie, le roi doit les contenir et les réprimer comme il le ferait d’ennemis déclarés, car une telle hostilité cachée est particulièrement dangereuse pour un règne conforme au dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not be misled by outward displays of loyalty. Those who create internal divisions while pretending to serve are effectively enemies; recognizing such deceit, the king should check and suppress them to protect the integrity of governance and dharma.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on rājadharma, he warns about courtly intrigue: false friends infiltrate the king’s inner circle and foment factionalism. Bhīṣma advises the king to identify this treachery and treat such persons as hostile threats.