Shloka 41
Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
तस्माद् विश्वासयेद् राजा सर्वभूतान्यमायया । सर्वतः परिरक्षेच्च यो महीं भोक्तुमिच्छति
tasmād viśvāsayed rājā sarvabhūtāny amāyayā | sarvataḥ parirakṣec ca yo mahīṃ bhoktum icchati ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Oleh itu, seorang raja yang ingin menikmati dan memerintah bumi ini hendaklah, tanpa tipu daya, meraih kepercayaan semua makhluk hidup dan melindungi negeri dari setiap penjuru.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy rests on two pillars: earning the trust of all beings through honesty (amāyā) and providing comprehensive protection. Enjoying sovereignty is presented as conditional upon ethical conduct and guardianship.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on how to rule: abandon deceit, cultivate public trust, and protect the kingdom from every direction—summarizing practical governance as moral responsibility.