Shloka 2
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
यत्रादृष्टं भयं ब्रह्म प्रजानां शमयत्युत । दृष्टं च राजा बाहुभ्यां तद् राज्यं सुखमेधते
yatrādṛṣṭaṃ bhayaṃ brahma prajānāṃ śamayaty uta | dṛṣṭaṃ ca rājā bāhubhyāṃ tad rājyaṃ sukham edhate ||
Bhishma berkata: Di mana “ketakutan yang tidak kelihatan”—yakni rasa hormat dan gentar terhadap kewibawaan Brahmana serta hukum suci dharma—mengekang dan menenteramkan rakyat; dan di mana kuasa raja yang nyata, disokong oleh kekuatan lengannya, turut tegak bersedia; maka kerajaan itu makmur dalam kebahagiaan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A stable and happy kingdom requires two complementary restraints: an inner, unseen deterrent rooted in Brahmanical/Vedic dharma that calms the populace through conscience and reverence, and an outer, visible deterrent in the king’s strength that enforces order and protection. Either alone is incomplete; together they sustain welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on statecraft and righteousness after the war, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of rulership. Here he describes the conditions under which a realm flourishes: subjects are guided by dharma and also safeguarded by the king’s effective power.