Shloka 6
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
यस्मिन्नर्थे हितं॑ यत् स्यात् तद्धर्ण रूपमादिशेत् | बहुरूपस्य राज्ञो हि सूक्ष्मो5प्यर्थों न सीदति
yasminn arthe hitaṃ yat syāt tad dharma-rūpam ādiśet | bahu-rūpasya rājño hi sūkṣmo 'py artho na sīdati ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Dalam setiap urusan, apa pun yang sungguh membawa kebaikan, hendaknya raja menampilkannya dalam wujud yang selaras dengan dharma—mengambil sikap yang paling tepat bagi kebaikan itu. Sebab bagi raja yang mampu mengambil banyak wujud yang sesuai, perkara yang paling halus pun tidak akan gagal: ia keras saat menghukum kejahatan, dan lembut saat melindungi serta mengasihi yang tertindih.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should frame and execute actions in a dharmic manner suited to the situation—stern when restraining wrongdoing, gentle when protecting the vulnerable—because adaptable, context-appropriate conduct prevents even small affairs from going wrong.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma in the Shanti Parva, he advises the king on effective ethical governance: the king must adopt different outward ‘forms’ or demeanors according to what truly serves welfare, so that administration remains successful.