Shloka 19
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यात्रायां यदि विज्ञातमनाक्रन्दमनन्तरम् | व्यासक्तं च प्रमत्तं च दुर्बलं च विचक्षण:
bhīṣma uvāca | yātrāyāṃ yadi vijñātam anākrandam anantaram | vyāsaktaṃ ca pramattaṃ ca durbalaṃ ca vicakṣaṇaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「遠征に出るとき、見識ある王は遅滞なく敵の情勢を見定めねばならぬ。敵が同盟も援助もなく、他所の戦に絡め取られ、油断して弱っていると知れ、しかも自軍が強大であるなら、戦に長けた勇王は、勝利の資を備えて軍に進発を命ずるがよい。ただしまず都と後方の守りを固め、内を安んじてから、敵を撃つべきである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A righteous and prudent ruler should not rush into war: first gather reliable intelligence, attack only when the enemy is strategically vulnerable, and ensure one’s own homeland and capital are secured before launching an offensive.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira principles of campaign-planning—evaluating the enemy’s weakness and one’s own strength, and prioritizing internal security before marching against an opponent.