Shloka 10
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
पुरगुप्तिरविश्वास: पौरसंघातभेदनम् | अरिमध्यस्थमित्राणां यथावच्चान्ववेक्षणम्
puraguptir aviśvāsaḥ paurasaṅghātabhedanam | arimadhyasthamitrāṇāṃ yathāvac cānuvīkṣaṇam, yudhiṣṭhira |
ビーシュマは言った。「ユディシュティラよ、国を守る手立てには、都城の守りを固めること、他者を盲信しないこと、城民の間に生じた派閥の結合を断ち切ること、そして敵・中立・同盟をそれぞれ相応に、情報を備えて見張ることがある。このように警戒を怠らず見極める統治は、外敵を退けるのと同じほど確かに、内からの崩壊を防いで国を保つ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler protects the state through constant vigilance: fortify and guard the city, avoid complacent trust, prevent citizen factions from forming dangerous blocs, and continuously assess enemies, neutrals, and allies with clear-eyed scrutiny.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma counsels Yudhishthira on practical measures of rule—especially urban security and political intelligence—emphasizing prevention of internal conspiracies and careful monitoring of external relations.