Shloka 31
Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies
Gaṇa-nīti
न चोद्योगेन बुद्धया वा रूपद्रव्येण वा पुन: । भेदाच्चैव प्रदानाच्च भिद्यन्ते रिपुभिर्गणा:
na codyogena buddhayā vā rūpadravyeṇa vā punaḥ | bhedāc caiva pradānāc ca bhidyante ripubhir gaṇāḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「人々が生まれや家系において等しくとも、事業への励み、知恵、また容姿と財の豊かさにおいて、皆が同じであることはあり得ない。敵はその差異につけ込み、離間の心を植え、ある者らを賄賂で買収して、ガナ（共和的な寡頭連合）の一致した身体を裂き崩す。ゆえに、ガナにとって堅固な結束こそが、市民の最大の庇護であり力である。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unity is the strongest protection for a republic or collective polity. Since people naturally differ in effort, intelligence, and wealth, enemies can exploit these differences through factionalism and bribery; therefore, maintaining solidarity is essential.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and social order, Bhishma advises about the vulnerabilities of a gaṇa (republic/assembly). He explains how adversaries destabilize such polities by creating internal divisions and buying off members.