Shloka 10
Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)
प्रमाणं सर्वभूतेषु गत्वा च ग्रहणं महत् । ततः सुह्ृद्बलं लब्ध्वा मन्त्रयित्वा सुमन्त्रिभि:
pramāṇaṃ sarvabhūteṣu gatvā ca grahaṇaṃ mahat | tataḥ suhṛdbalaṃ labdhvā mantrayitvā sumantribhiḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “Tendo ido entre todos os seres para estabelecer tua credibilidade e posição, e tendo assegurado grande apoio, então—depois de obter a força de amigos leais e bem-intencionados—deves deliberar com excelentes conselheiros.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and ethical governance requires first establishing public credibility and broad acceptance, then securing dependable allies, and finally making decisions through careful consultation with wise ministers rather than acting impulsively.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king on practical steps of rule: build legitimacy and support, gather the strength of well-wishers, and deliberate with competent counsellors before undertaking major actions.