Shloka 20
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
भूमिवर्ज धनं राजा जित्वा राजन् महाहवे । अपि चान्नौषधी: शश्वदाजहार प्रतर्दन:
bhūmivarjaṃ dhanaṃ rājā jitvā rājan mahāhave | api cānnauṣadhīḥ śaśvad ājahāra pratardanaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王よ、古のプラタルダナ王は大いなる合戦に勝ったのち、土地そのものは手を付けず、財宝のみを運び去った。さらに穀物の備蓄と薬草までも、たえず自らの都へと運び入れたのだ。」この段は、勝利の後における王の節制を示す。すなわち、移動し得る資源のみを取り、征服地を荒廃させず、害を抑えて秩序を保つことを旨とし、敗国を滅ぼし尽くすことを目的としないのである。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory should be tempered by restraint: a righteous ruler may secure movable resources needed for governance while avoiding needless devastation or dispossession of the conquered land, thereby limiting suffering and preserving stability.
Bhishma cites an earlier example: King Pratardana wins a major battle and, instead of seizing the defeated king’s territory, takes the remaining wealth along with supplies of grain and medicinal herbs to his own capital.