Shloka 20
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यात्रामाज्ञापयेद् वीर: कल्य: पुष्टबल: सुखी । पूर्व कृत्वा विधान च यात्रायां नगरे तथा
yātrām ājñāpayet vīraḥ kalyaḥ puṣṭabalaḥ sukhī | pūrvaṃ kṛtvā vidhānaṃ ca yātrāyāṃ nagare tathā ||
ビーシュマは言った。「有能にして勇敢な王—身健やかで、兵力充実し、諸資具にも恵まれる者—は、まず然るべき手立てを整え、とりわけ自国の都と領土の守りを固めてから、はじめて遠征の命を下すべきである。内の安寧と備えを確かにしたのち、慎み深い政道と責任ある戦の作法に従って、敵へ向かうがよい。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should not rush into war: he must first ensure readiness—especially the security and administration of his own capital and realm—and only then order a campaign, acting from strength and proper provision rather than impulse.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on royal duty, Bhīṣma counsels the king on when to initiate a military march: after making prior arrangements and safeguarding the city, the king may command the army to set out.