Shloka 7
कथं मित्रमरिं चापि विन्दते भरतर्षभ । चेष्टितव्यं कथं चात्र शत्रोर्मित्रस्य चान्तरे,राजा किस प्रकार मित्र और शत्रुको अपने वशमें करता है तथा उसे शत्रु और मित्रके बीचमें रहकर कैसी चेष्टा करनी चाहिये?
kathaṁ mitram ariṁ cāpi vindate bharatarṣabha | ceṣṭitavyaṁ kathaṁ cātra śatror mitrasya cāntare ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai banteng di antara keturunan Bharata, bagaimanakah seorang raja memenangi hati baik sahabat mahupun musuh? Dan apabila dia harus berdiri di antara musuh dan sekutu, apakah tindakan yang patut diambilnya di sana?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a rājadharma problem: a ruler must know methods to secure loyalty and compliance from both allies and adversaries, and must act with discernment when positioned between competing interests—balancing firmness, conciliation, and prudent strategy without abandoning dharma.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and ethics, Yudhiṣṭhira asks an elder authority (addressed as ‘Bharatarṣabha’) to explain how a king gains influence over friends and enemies, and what conduct is appropriate when dealing simultaneously with an ally and an opponent.