Shloka 37
Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
कृतं ममाप्रियं तेन तेनायं निहतो मृथे । इति वाचा बदन् इन्तृन् पूजयेत रहोगत:
kṛtaṃ mamāpriyaṃ tena tenāyaṃ nihato mṛdhe | iti vācā vadan nṛpān pūjayet rahogataḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Dengan perbuatan itu, sesuatu yang tidak menyenangkan hatiku telah terjadi; kerana oleh perbuatan itulah orang ini terbunuh di medan perang.” Setelah berkata demikian—meluahkan penyesalan dengan kata-kata di hadapan para raja—maka apabila pemerintah telah masuk ke tempat yang tersendiri, hendaklah baginda memuliakan dan memuji para pahlawan gagah yang telah menewaskan juara-juara utama pihak musuh.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should uphold ethical sensitivity about violence in public discourse—expressing restraint and regret—while still fulfilling rājadharma by privately honoring and rewarding those whose valor secures victory and protects the kingdom.
Bhīṣma advises that after a notable enemy warrior has been killed, the king may verbally lament the killing before other rulers, but once in private he should praise and honor the soldiers who accomplished the decisive feat against the enemy’s leading fighters.