Shloka 10
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
पुरगुप्तिरविश्वास: पौरसंघातभेदनम् | अरिमध्यस्थमित्राणां यथावच्चान्ववेक्षणम्
puraguptir aviśvāsaḥ paurasaṅghātabhedanam | arimadhyasthamitrāṇāṃ yathāvac cānuvīkṣaṇam, yudhiṣṭhira |
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô Yudhiṣṭhira, parmi les moyens de sauvegarder un royaume figurent : assurer la défense de la cité, ne pas s’en remettre à une confiance aveugle envers autrui, briser toute coalition de factions parmi les habitants, et exercer une surveillance juste et bien informée sur les ennemis, les neutres et les alliés. Une gouvernance ainsi vigilante et clairvoyante préserve le pays et prévient l’effondrement intérieur aussi sûrement qu’elle dissuade la menace extérieure.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler protects the state through constant vigilance: fortify and guard the city, avoid complacent trust, prevent citizen factions from forming dangerous blocs, and continuously assess enemies, neutrals, and allies with clear-eyed scrutiny.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma counsels Yudhishthira on practical measures of rule—especially urban security and political intelligence—emphasizing prevention of internal conspiracies and careful monitoring of external relations.