Shloka 27
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
अशक्यमिति कृत्वा वा ततो<चन्यै: संविदं चरेत् । ब्रह्मदण्डमदृष्टेषु दृष्टेषु चतुरद्धिणीम्
aśakyam iti kṛtvā vā tato 'nyaiḥ saṃvidaṃ caret | brahmadaṇḍam adṛṣṭeṣu dṛṣṭeṣu catur-aṅgiṇīm ||
जो कार्य अकेले करना असम्भव ठहरे, उसके लिए तब दूसरों के साथ संधि-परामर्श करे। जो शत्रु दूर होने से दृष्टिगोचर न हों, उन पर ब्रह्मदण्ड—नीति और धर्माधिकार का बल—प्रयोग करे; और जो निकट होकर दिखाई दें, उन पर चतुरंगिणी सेना भेजकर आक्रमण करे।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not persist in solitary action when a task exceeds one’s capacity; seek counsel and coordinated planning. Apply proportionate means: moral/political pressure for distant or unseen threats, and military force for immediate, visible threats.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the ruler on practical decision-making: when to consult allies/advisers, and how to choose between non-violent authoritative measures (brahmadaṇḍa) and direct military deployment (the fourfold army).