Shloka 19
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यात्रायां यदि विज्ञातमनाक्रन्दमनन्तरम् | व्यासक्तं च प्रमत्तं च दुर्बलं च विचक्षण:
bhīṣma uvāca | yātrāyāṃ yadi vijñātam anākrandam anantaram | vyāsaktaṃ ca pramattaṃ ca durbalaṃ ca vicakṣaṇaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Quand il se met en campagne, un roi clairvoyant doit, sans délai, s’informer de l’état de l’ennemi. Si l’adversaire est sans alliés ni soutien, empêtré ailleurs, négligent et faible—tandis que ses propres forces sont puissantes—alors il convient qu’un souverain capable et vaillant, pourvu des moyens de la réussite, ordonne la marche de l’armée. Mais qu’il assure d’abord la protection de sa capitale et de ses arrières, puis seulement qu’il frappe l’ennemi.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A righteous and prudent ruler should not rush into war: first gather reliable intelligence, attack only when the enemy is strategically vulnerable, and ensure one’s own homeland and capital are secured before launching an offensive.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira principles of campaign-planning—evaluating the enemy’s weakness and one’s own strength, and prioritizing internal security before marching against an opponent.