Shloka 61
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यत: शड़्का भवेच्चापि भृत्यतो5थापि मन्त्रित: । पौरेभ्यो नृपतेर्वापि स्वाधीनान् कारयीत तान्,यदि राजाको अपने किसी नौकरसे, मन्त्रीसे, पुरवासियोंसे अथवा किसी पड़ोसी राजासे भी कोई संदेह हो जाय तो समयोचित उपायोंद्वारा उन सबको अपने वशमें कर ले
yataḥ śaṅkā bhavec cāpi bhṛtyato 'thāpi mantritaḥ | paurebhyo nṛpater vāpi svādhīnān kārayīta tān ||
Bhishma bersabda: Jika raja mula menaruh syak—sama ada terhadap seorang hamba, seorang menteri, warga kota, ataupun seorang raja jiran—maka dengan langkah yang tepat pada waktunya dan sesuai keadaannya, hendaklah baginda menundukkan semua pihak itu di bawah kawalannya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not ignore suspicion within the state; through timely, proportionate measures he should secure loyalty and compliance from servants, ministers, citizens, and even neighboring powers, so that the realm remains stable and protected.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance: when doubts arise about key groups around the king, the king should act promptly to bring them under effective control.