Shloka 40
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
हरेत कीर्ति धर्ममस्योपरुन्ध्या- दर्थे दीर्घ वीर्यमस्योपहन्यात् । रिपुर्देष्टा दुर्बलो वा बली वा तस्माच्छत्रोर्नैंव हीयेदू यतात्मा
bhīṣma uvāca | haret kīrtiṃ dharmam asyoparundhyād arthe dīrghaṃ vīryam asyopahanyāt | ripur dveṣṭā durbalo vā balī vā tasmāc chatror naiva hīyed u yatātmā ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଦ୍ୱେଷୀ ଶତ୍ରୁ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ହେଉ କି ବଳବାନ, ସେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ କୀର୍ତ୍ତି ହରଣ କରେ, ତାଙ୍କ ଧର୍ମରେ ବାଧା ଦିଏ, ଏବଂ ଅର୍ଥସାଧନ ଓ ରାଜ୍ୟସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ଦୀର୍ଘକାଳ ଧରି ଗଢ଼ିଉଠା ଶକ୍ତିକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ନଷ୍ଟ କରିଦିଏ। ତେଣୁ ଆତ୍ମସଂୟମୀ ରାଜା ଶତ୍ରୁ ପ୍ରତି କେବେ ଅବହେଳା କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must remain vigilant toward enemies at all times; even a seemingly weak foe can damage reputation, disrupt righteous governance (dharma), and undermine prosperity and power (artha and vīrya). Self-control should be paired with strategic alertness, not complacency.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on rajadharma. Here he warns that an enemy’s malice can erode a king’s standing and capacity, so the king should not relax his guard.