Shloka 34
Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
प्रहरिष्यन् प्रियं ब्रूयात् प्रहरन्नपि भारत | प्रहत्य च कृपायीत शोचन्निव रुदन्निव
praharīṣyan priyaṁ brūyāt praharann api bhārata | prahatya ca kṛpāyīta śocann iva rudann iva ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai keturunan Bharata, walaupun hendak memukul dan bahkan ketika memukul, seorang raja hendaklah berkata-kata yang menyenangkan. Dan setelah menewaskan musuh, dia tetap harus menunjukkan belas kasihan—menampakkan dukacita seolah-olah sedang meratap dan menangis.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, a ruler must restrain cruelty: speak gently before and during combat, and after defeating the enemy, show compassion rather than gloating—maintaining dharma and inner self-mastery.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on the conduct of a king in conflict—how to combine necessary force with humane speech and post-battle compassion.