Shloka 52
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
अरिमध्यस्थमित्राणां सम्यक् चोक्त प्रपडचनम् | अवरमर्द: प्रतीघातस्तथैव च बलीयसाम्,सात अड़ोंसे युक्त राज्यके हास, वृद्धि और समान भावसे स्थिति, दूतके सामर्थ्यसे होनेवाली अपनी और अपने राष्ट्रकी वृद्धि, शत्रु, मित्र और मध्यस्थोंका विस्तारपूर्वक सम्यक् विवेचन, बलवान शत्रुओंको कुचल डालने तथा उनसे टक्कर लेनेकी विधि आदिका उक्त ग्रन्थमें वर्णन किया गया है
arimadhyasthamitrāṇāṁ samyak cokta-prapañcanam | avaramardaḥ pratīghātas tathaiva ca balīyasām ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Dalam risalah itu dipaparkan, secara lengkap dan berurutan, telaah yang tepat tentang musuh, pihak netral, dan sekutu; demikian pula cara menundukkan lawan dan menghadapi serangan balasan—bahkan ketika pihak lawan lebih kuat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must understand the political field comprehensively—classifying powers as enemy, neutral, or ally—and must know both offensive and defensive measures, including how to respond to retaliation and how to face even stronger adversaries with prudent strategy rather than rashness.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by summarizing what a foundational treatise on governance contains: systematic analysis of relations (enemy/neutral/ally) and practical methods for subduing foes and meeting counterattacks.