Shloka 5
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
सप्ताड्ुस्य च राज्यस्य विपरीतं य आचरेत् । गुरुर्वा यदि वा मित्र प्रतिहन्तव्य एव सः
saptāṅgasya ca rājyasya viparītaṃ ya ācaret | gurur vā yadi vā mitra pratihantavya eva saḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Un royaume possède sept membres : le roi, les ministres, les alliés, le trésor, le territoire, les forteresses et l’armée. Quiconque agit à l’encontre du bon ordre d’un royaume pourvu de ces sept membres—fût-il maître ou même ami—doit être traité en ennemi et abattu. Pour la sûreté du royaume et la sauvegarde du dharma, les liens personnels ne sauraient excuser une conduite qui mine l’État.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The welfare of the state and the maintenance of rajadharma override private relationships: anyone who acts against the proper order of a well-constituted kingdom—even a guru or friend—must be decisively restrained, even to the point of lethal punishment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on governance and security. He emphasizes that threats to the state’s foundational elements must be met firmly, without favoritism based on personal bonds.