Shloka 2
धर्म्यविजय-नियमाः
Rules for Dharmic Victory in Kṣatriya Engagement
भीष्म उवाच ससहायो<सहायो वा राष्ट्रमागम्य भूमिप: । ब्रूयादहं वो राजेति रक्षिष्यामि च व: सदा
bhīṣma uvāca: sa-sahāyo ’sahāyo vā rāṣṭram āgamya bhūmipaḥ | brūyād ahaṃ vo rājeti rakṣiṣyāmi ca vaḥ sadā ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai raja, entah disertai sekutu atau seorang diri, penguasa yang memasuki suatu negeri yang hendak ditundukkannya harus berkata kepada rakyatnya: ‘Akulah rajamu; aku akan senantiasa melindungimu.’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames legitimate kingship as grounded in a public commitment to protection: a ruler’s claim over a realm is ethically tied to the vow to safeguard its people, whether he comes with allies or alone.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma, he describes the proper procedure for a king approaching a realm he seeks to rule: upon entering, he should openly declare himself king and promise continual protection to the inhabitants.