Shloka 10
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
मृजावान् स्यात् स्वयूथ्येषु भौमानि चरणै: क्षिपेत् । जातपक्ष: परिस्पन्देत् प्रेक्षेद् वैकल्यमात्मन:
bhīṣma uvāca | mṛjāvān syāt svayūthyeṣu bhaumāni caraṇaiḥ kṣipet | jātapakṣaḥ parispandet prekṣed vaikalyaṃ ātmanaḥ |
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ରାଜା ନିଜ ପକ୍ଷର ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଓ ନ୍ୟାୟନିଷ୍ଠ ଆଚରଣ ରଖୁ। ଶତ୍ରୁଦେଶରେ ଖେତର ଫସଲକୁ ନିଜ ଘୋଡ଼ା ଓ ବଳଦଙ୍କ ପାଦତଳେ ଦଳି ନଷ୍ଟ କରାଉ। ନିଜ ପକ୍ଷ ବଳବାନ୍ ହେଲେ ମାତ୍ର ଶତ୍ରୁ ଉପରେ ଅଗ୍ରସର ହେଉ, ଏବଂ ନିଜର କେଉଁଠି କେମିତି ଦୁର୍ବଳତା ଅଛି ତାହା ସଦା ଭଲଭାବେ ନିରୀକ୍ଷଣ କରୁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma advises a dual discipline of kingship: ethical purity and fairness toward one’s own people, combined with hard-nosed strategy against enemies—acting only after consolidating strength and continuously auditing one’s own weaknesses.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma lays out practical counsel for a ruler: maintain clean conduct within one’s camp, weaken the enemy materially by damaging their agricultural base, and launch offensives only when one’s own side is strong, while keeping vigilant self-scrutiny.