Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)
अभ्युद्धरति चात्मानं॑ प्रसादयति च प्रजा: । फिर तो तुम्हें बहुत-से शुद्ध हृदयवाले
abhyuddharati cātmānaṁ prasādayati ca prajāḥ |
Bhishma berkata: “Barangsiapa hidup selaras dengan śāstra, mengekang pikiran dan indria, ia mengangkat dan menyelamatkan dirinya sendiri; dan dengan laku dharma itu pula ia menenteramkan rakyat. Maka banyak pembantu berhati suci, bebas dari kebiasaan buruk, dan penuh semangat akan datang kepadanya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Self-mastery aligned with śāstra is both personally salvific and socially beneficial: controlling mind and senses uplifts one’s own life and naturally wins the trust and contentment of the people.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and righteous rule; here he emphasizes that a disciplined, śāstra-guided person (especially a ruler) secures his own welfare and also keeps the subjects pleased and peaceful.