Shloka 1
Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)
ऑपन-माजल छा अ<-छकऋाज (आपडद्धर्मपर्व) एकत्रिशदधिकशततमो< ध्याय: आप्त्तिग्रस्त राजाके कर्तव्यका वर्णन युधिछिर उवाच क्षीणस्य दीर्घसूत्रस्य सानुक्रोशस्य बन्धुषु । परिशड्किततवृत्तस्य श्रुतमन्त्रस्य भारत
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kṣīṇasya dīrghasūtrasya sānukrośasya bandhuṣu | pariśaṅkitavṛttasya śrutamantrasya bhārata ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «Ô Bhārata, quelle voie reste-t-il à un roi dont la force et les ressources ont été épuisées ; qui s’abandonne au retard ; qui, par une pitié excessive envers ses proches, ne peut les mener affronter l’ennemi, craignant leur perte ; dont la conduite est suspecte (ou qui soupçonne lui-même la conduite de ses conseillers) ; et dont les délibérations ont été surprises, n’étant plus secrètes ? Quand un tel souverain est déjà pressé par le malheur et l’esprit ébranlé, que doit-il faire pour se délivrer de cette crise ?»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a rāja-dharma problem: when a ruler is weakened materially and psychologically, divided by misplaced compassion, and compromised by distrust and leaked strategy, he must seek a disciplined, realistic remedy—restoring secrecy, decisive action, reliable counsel, and protective measures—rather than drifting in delay and fear.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira questions the elder authority (addressed as ‘Bhārata’) about what a distressed king should do when his power is depleted, his decision-making is delayed, his inner circle is unreliable or suspected, and his strategic counsel has been exposed—setting up Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct in political calamity.