Shloka 34
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
विधानाक्रम्य मित्राणि विधानमुपकल्पयेत् । सामभेदान् विरोधार्थ विधानमुपकल्पयेत्
vidhānākramya mitrāṇi vidhānam upakalpayet | sāmabhedān virodhārtha vidhānam upakalpayet |
उस समय कर्तव्य-विचार के लिए मित्रों का आश्रय लेकर, उनकी सलाह से पहले अपनी रक्षा की उचित व्यवस्था करे; फिर साम, भेद अथवा युद्ध—इनमें से जो उपयुक्त हो, उसे अपनाए।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
First secure one’s own safety and preparedness through orderly planning and trusted counsel; then choose the appropriate political-ethical means—conciliation, division, or conflict—according to what the situation truly requires.
In the Shanti Parva discourse on rajadharma, Bhishma instructs the listener on prudent governance: consult allies, establish protective arrangements, and only then decide among diplomatic or forceful measures based on circumstances.