Shloka 19
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
परं विश्वासयेत् साम्ना स्वशक्तिं चोपलक्षयेत् । आत्मन: परिमर्शेन बुद्धि बुद्धया विचारयेत्
paraṁ viśvāsayet sāmnā svaśaktiṁ copalakṣayet | ātmanaḥ parimarśena buddhiṁ buddhyā vicārayet ||
Bhishma dit : «Un roi doit d’abord gagner la confiance des hommes par une conciliation douce. Qu’il rende aussi manifeste sa propre force, puis—par l’examen de soi—délibère avec une intelligence claire et décide ce qu’il convient de faire. Ainsi, persuasion, puissance crédible et jugement réfléchi conduisent ensemble un gouvernement conforme au dharma.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should lead by a balanced method: win trust through gentle persuasion (sāman), maintain credibility by demonstrating strength, and finally decide action through careful self-reflection and rational deliberation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma advises the king on practical statecraft: how to approach others, establish confidence, signal capability, and then choose the proper course through thoughtful judgment.