Shloka 13
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
न संनिपात: कर्तव्य: सामान्ये विजये सति । विश्वास्यैवोपसन्नार्थों वशे कृत्वा रिपु: प्रभो
bhīṣma uvāca | na sannipātaḥ kartavyaḥ sāmānye vijaye sati | viśvāsyaivopasannārtho vaśe kṛtvā ripuḥ prabho ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai tuanku, bila kemenangan perang adalah perkara yang lazim namun tak pasti—yang bisa jatuh kepada siapa saja—janganlah tergesa-gesa mencari benturan langsung demi itu. Lebih baik terlebih dahulu meraih kepercayaan musuh dan menundukkannya; lalu pada saat yang tepat, hancurkan seluruh rancangannya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma advises that since battlefield victory is not guaranteed and can go to anyone, a ruler should avoid needless direct confrontation and instead use statecraft—winning the opponent’s trust, gaining leverage, and then neutralizing the opponent’s plans at an opportune time.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on governance and political conduct. Here he presents a counsel of rāja-nīti: do not seek a head-on battle when outcomes are uncertain; prefer controlled, calculated measures to subdue an enemy and thwart his intentions.