Shloka 34
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
मृदुमप्यवमन्यन्ते तीक्ष्णादुद्धविजते जन: । मा तीक्ष्णो मा मृदुर्भूस्त्वं तीक्ष्णो भव मृदुर्भव
mṛdum apy avamanyante tīkṣṇād udvijate janaḥ | mā tīkṣṇo mā mṛdur bhūs tvaṃ tīkṣṇo bhava mṛdur bhava ||
ビーシュマは言った。「人々はあまりに柔和な統治者をさえ侮り、また過度に苛烈な者には怯え騒ぐ。ゆえに、ただ厳しいだけでも、ただ優しいだけでもあってはならぬ。時に応じて剛を取り、ふさわしき時には柔を示せ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective rulership requires balance: excessive softness invites contempt, while excessive harshness provokes fear and resentment. A king should apply gentleness and severity according to time, place, and need.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on practical statecraft and ethical governance, emphasizing measured conduct rather than extremes.