Shloka 21
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
किसी बलवान् शत्रुका अपकार करके हम दूर जाकर रहेंगे, ऐसा समझकर निश्चिन्त नहीं होना चाहिये; क्योंकि जैसे बाज पक्षी झपट्टा मारता है, उसी प्रकार ये दूरस्थ शत्रु भी असावधानीकी अवस्थामें टूट पड़ते हैं ।।
dṛḍhamūlas tv aduṣṭātmā viditvā balam ātmanaḥ | abalān abhiyuñjīta na tu ye balavattarāḥ ||
ବାମଦେବ କହିଲେ—ରାଜା ପ୍ରଥମେ ନିଜ ଆଧାରକୁ ଦୃଢ କରୁ, ଦୁର୍ଗ ଓ ରାଜଧାନୀକୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ରଖୁ, ଏବଂ ନିଜ ବଳକୁ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଭାବେ ଜାଣୁ। ତାପରେ ନିଜଠାରୁ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଶତ୍ରୁଙ୍କୁ ମାତ୍ର ଆକ୍ରମଣ କରୁ; ଯେମାନେ ଅଧିକ ବଳବାନ, ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଆକ୍ରମଣ ନ କରୁ।
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should act from a secure position, measure his own strength realistically, and engage only opponents he can responsibly overcome; attacking stronger foes is condemned as reckless and harmful to the kingdom.
In the Śānti Parva’s rājadharma instruction, Vāmadeva addresses the king with practical-ethical counsel on warfare: consolidate the realm’s security, evaluate capability, and choose conflicts with restraint rather than bravado.