Shloka 27
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
अशक्यमिति कृत्वा वा ततो<चन्यै: संविदं चरेत् । ब्रह्मदण्डमदृष्टेषु दृष्टेषु चतुरद्धिणीम्
aśakyam iti kṛtvā vā tato 'nyaiḥ saṃvidaṃ caret | brahmadaṇḍam adṛṣṭeṣu dṛṣṭeṣu catur-aṅgiṇīm ||
Bhishma dit : «Si l’on juge qu’une tâche est impossible à accomplir seul, qu’on entre alors en conseil et en accord avec d’autres. Contre des ennemis hors de vue, qu’on emploie le “brahma‑daṇḍa”, la force de l’autorité sacrée et de la politique ; mais contre des ennemis proches et visibles, qu’on envoie l’armée aux quatre corps pour frapper. Ainsi, la prudence choisit le conseil et le moyen convenable, plutôt qu’un effort solitaire et téméraire.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not persist in solitary action when a task exceeds one’s capacity; seek counsel and coordinated planning. Apply proportionate means: moral/political pressure for distant or unseen threats, and military force for immediate, visible threats.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the ruler on practical decision-making: when to consult allies/advisers, and how to choose between non-violent authoritative measures (brahmadaṇḍa) and direct military deployment (the fourfold army).