Shloka 14
यदा तु हीन॑ नृपतिर्विद्यादात्मानमात्मना । अमात्यै: सह सम्मन्त्रय कुर्यात् संधिं बलीयसा,यदि राजाको अपना पक्ष स्वयं ही निर्बल जान पड़े तो मन्त्रियोंस सलाह लेकर बलवान् शत्रुके साथ संधि कर ले
yadā tu hīnaḥ nṛpatir vidyād ātmānam ātmanā | amātyaiḥ saha sammantrya kuryāt sandhiṃ balīyasā ||
രാജാവ് സ്വന്തം വിവേചനത്തോടെ തന്നെ തന്റെ നില ദുർബലമാണെന്ന് തിരിച്ചറിയുമ്പോൾ, മന്ത്രിമാരോടൊപ്പം ആലോചിച്ച് ശക്തനായ ശത്രുവുമായി സന്ധി ചെയ്യണം.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should realistically assess his own strength; if he is weak, he should consult his ministers and make a treaty with a stronger opponent to protect the kingdom and subjects. Prideful refusal of peace when one is overmatched is presented as unethical and imprudent.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rāja-dharma in the Śānti Parva, he advises Yudhiṣṭhira on policy choices. Here he outlines a diplomatic rule: when weakness is evident, deliberate with counsellors and conclude sandhi (peace/alliance) with the stronger power.