Shloka 25
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
नैव द्वौ न त्रयः कार्या न मृष्येरन् परस्परम् । एकार्थे होव भूतानां भेदो भवति सर्वदा
naiva dvau na trayaḥ kāryā na mṛṣyeran parasparam | ekārthe hova bhūtānāṁ bhedo bhavati sarvadā ||
Bhishma dit : «Qu’on n’établisse pas deux ou trois autorités rivales, et qu’on ne les force pas à se supporter dans la rivalité. Même lorsque le but est unique, les divisions parmi les êtres naissent inévitablement.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that appointing multiple parallel leaders or centers of authority breeds rivalry; even when the stated goal is common, human (and social) tendencies produce factionalism. Therefore, for stability and dharma in governance, unity of command and clarity of authority are crucial.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and statecraft after the war. Here he emphasizes a practical principle of administration: avoid creating competing power-centers, because mutual intolerance and inevitable splits will undermine the common purpose.