Shloka 8
Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)
अवरोधान् जुगुप्सेत का सपत्नधने दया । न त्वेवात्मा प्रदातव्य: शक्ये सति कथंचन
bhīṣma uvāca | avarodhān jugupset kā sapatnadhane dayā | na tvevātma pradātavyaḥ śakye sati kathaṃcana ||
ເມື່ອສັດຕູບຸກຕີ ກະສັດຄວນພະຍາຍາມປົກປ້ອງພະລາຊວັງພາຍໃນກ່ອນ. ຖ້າພາຍໃນນັ້ນຖືກສັດຕູຍຶດໄປ ກໍຄວນຕັດຄວາມຍຶດຕິດອອກ; ເພາະຄວາມເມດຕາຕໍ່ຊັບສິນ ແລະຜູ້ພຶ່ງພາທີ່ຕົກຢູ່ໃນອໍານາດຄູ່ປະປັກ ຈະມີປະໂຫຍດອັນໃດ? ເທົ່າທີ່ເປັນໄປໄດ້ ຢ່າໃຫ້ຕົນເອງຕົກຢູ່ໃນມືສັດຕູເດັດຂາດ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In crisis, especially during enemy assault, a ruler must act with clear-eyed prudence: protect the inner quarters first, but if they are captured, do not indulge in futile pity for what is already under enemy control; above all, do not allow oneself to be captured when escape or resistance is possible, since the king’s survival is necessary for restoring dharma and protecting the polity.
Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on rajadharma in the Shanti Parva, giving hard counsel about wartime priorities: safeguarding the palace’s inner apartments, recognizing when a position is lost, withdrawing attachment, and ensuring the ruler does not fall into enemy hands.