Shloka 15
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
अथास्य प्रहरेत् काले किंचिद्विचलिते पदे । दण्डं च दूषयेदस्य पुरुषैराप्तकारिभि:
athāsya praharet kāle kiñcidvicalite pade | daṇḍaṃ ca dūṣayed asya puruṣair āptakāribhiḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Puis, au moment convenable, lorsque son pas a vacillé ne fût-ce qu’un peu, il faut frapper ; et il faut encore miner son autorité au moyen d’hommes sûrs, aptes à accomplir ce qu’on leur confie.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective governance and political action depend on timing and intelligence: when an opponent shows even slight instability, decisive action may be taken, and his capacity to wield authority (daṇḍa) can be weakened through reliable agents—highlighting pragmatic rājadharma rather than idealized morality.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on rājadharma in the Śānti Parva, he outlines tactical measures against an adversary: wait for the opportune moment when the opponent’s footing slips, then strike, and simultaneously erode his standing and coercive power through trusted operatives.