Shloka 53
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
धनैर्विशिष्टान् मतिशीलपूजितान् गुणोपपन्नान् युधि दृष्टविक्रमान् । गुणेषु दृष्टवा न चिरादिवात्मवान् यतो$5भिसंधाय निहन्ति शात्रवान्
bhīṣma uvāca |
dhanair viśiṣṭān matiśīlapūjitān guṇopapannān yudhi dṛṣṭavikramān |
guṇeṣu dṛṣṭvā na cirād ivātmavān yato 'bhisaṃdhāya nihanti śātravān ||
Bhishma berkata: Seorang raja yang menguasai diri, senantiasa waspada dalam memakai siasat negara—seperti bersekutu dan memutuskan persekutuan bila perlu—dapat, dengan strategi yang terarah, segera memusnahkan bahkan para pahlawan musuh yang kaya, dihormati karena kecerdasan dan laku, berbudi luhur, dan telah terbukti keberaniannya di medan perang.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even formidable enemies—rich, respected, virtuous, and battle-proven—can be overcome if a king remains self-controlled and continuously alert in applying political instruments like alliance (sandhi) and hostility/war (vigraha), using deliberate and well-planned stratagems.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on royal duty, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance: the ruler must assess an opponent’s strengths and still, through careful planning and timely policy decisions, neutralize hostile forces.