Shloka 4
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
तदेतन्नरशार्दूल हृदि त्वं कर्तुमहसि । संधेयानभिसंधत्स्व विरोध्यांश्व विरोधय,अतः नरश्रेष्ठ! तुम इस बातको अपने हृदयमें धारण कर लो, जो संधि करनेके योग्य हों, उनसे संधि करो और जो विरोधके पात्र हों, उनका डटकर विरोध करो
tad etan naraśārdūla hṛdi tvaṁ kartum arhasi | sandheyān abhisandhatsva virodhyāṁś ca virodhaya ||
ភីស្មៈបានមានព្រះវាចា៖ «ឱ នរខ្លាធំ! ចូរអ្នកដាក់រឿងនេះឲ្យជាប់ក្នុងបេះដូង៖ អ្នកណាសមធ្វើសន្ធិ ចូរធ្វើសន្ធិជាមួយគេ; អ្នកណាសមត្រូវប្រឆាំង ចូរប្រឆាំងដោយមិនរំញ័រ»។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should practice discernment: pursue peace and alliance with those open to settlement, but confront and restrain those whose stance or actions warrant opposition. Both conciliation and resistance are ethical tools when applied to the right targets.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on rajadharma (the duties of kings). Here he gives a concise rule of governance: choose diplomacy with the reconcilable and firm resistance against the irreconcilable.