Shloka 3
धर्म्यविजय-नियमाः
Rules for Dharmic Victory in Kṣatriya Engagement
मम धर्मबलिं दत्त किं वा मां प्रतिपत्स्थथ । ते चेत् तमागतं तत्र वृणुयु: कुशलं भवेत्
mama dharmabaliṁ datta kiṁ vā māṁ pratipatsthatha | te cet tam āgataṁ tatra vṛṇuyuḥ kuśalaṁ bhavet ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai raja! Berikan kepadaku upeti yang wajib menurut dharma; jika tidak, hadapilah aku dalam perang. Bila setelah kedatanganku rakyat negeri itu memilih menerima raja yang datang sebagai penguasa mereka, maka kesejahteraan dan ketertiban akan tegak bagi semua.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should seek legitimate sovereignty through dharma: either receive rightful tribute peacefully or, if resisted, meet opposition openly; the best outcome is when the people voluntarily accept the incoming king, ensuring public welfare.
Bhishma is describing a policy of approaching a target realm and issuing a clear choice—pay lawful tribute or fight—while emphasizing that stability is achieved when the inhabitants themselves accept the arriving king as their ruler.