Shloka 8
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
न शत्रुर्विवृतः कार्यो वधमस्याभिकाडुक्षता | क्रोधं भयं च हर्ष च नियम्य स्वयमात्मनि,शत्रुके वधकी इच्छा रखनेवाले राजाको चाहिये कि वह क्रोध, भय और हर्षको अपने मनमें ही रोक ले तथा शत्रुकोी सावधान न करे
na śatrur vivṛtaḥ kāryo vadham asyābhikāṅkṣatā | krodhaṁ bhayaṁ ca harṣaṁ ca niyamya svayam ātmani ||
Bhishma berkata: “Seorang raja yang berniat membinasakan musuh tidak boleh membuat musuh itu waspada dengan menyingkapkan maksudnya. Ia harus menahan amarah, takut, dan kegirangan di dalam batinnya sendiri, menyembunyikan niatnya serta menjaga laku dengan pengendalian diri.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must practice inner restraint—especially over anger, fear, and excitement—and avoid revealing hostile intentions, since emotional display and disclosure can alert an enemy and undermine effective, dharmic governance.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on rāja-dharma (the duties and conduct of kings). Here he gives practical counsel on dealing with enemies: maintain secrecy of intent and govern one’s emotions to prevent strategic and moral failure.