Shloka 5
Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)
यो<धर्मविजिगीशु: स्याद् बलवान् पापनिश्चय: । आत्मन: संनिरोधेन संधि तेनापि रोचयेत्
yo dharmavijigīṣuḥ syād balavān pāpaniścayaḥ | ātmanaḥ saṃnirodhena sandhiṃ tenāpi rocayet ||
Bila ada lawan yang menghendaki kemenangan melalui adharma, yang kuat, dan bertekad jahat, maka perdamaian pun patut lebih disukai bahkan dengannya—dengan menahan diri dan menerima sebagian kerugian—daripada tergesa-gesa masuk ke pertikaian yang membawa kebinasaan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When facing a powerful opponent driven by unrighteous and harmful intent, wise policy is to restrain one’s pride and impulses and prefer a peace settlement—even at some cost—if it prevents greater destruction and preserves dharma in the long run.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and statecraft, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about dealing with dangerous adversaries: if the enemy is strong and morally corrupt, a controlled, strategic peace can be preferable to open war.