Shloka 53
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
“शत्रु ककणाजनक वचन बोल रहा हो तो भी उसे मारे बिना न छोड़े। जिसने पहले अपना अपकार किया हो, उसको अवश्य मार डाले और उसमें दु:ख न माने ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | saṅgrahānugrahe yatnaḥ sadā kāryo 'n-asūyatā | nigrahaś cāpi yatnena kartavyo bhūtim icchatā ||
Bhīṣma disse: Ainda que o inimigo fale palavras que inspirem confiança, não deve ser deixado ir sem ser abatido. Aquele que antes causou dano deve ser morto sem falta, e não se deve considerar isso motivo de lamento. O rei que deseja prosperidade e poder soberano deve abandonar a caça a defeitos e a inveja; deve esforçar-se sempre por conquistar e manter as pessoas ao seu lado com apoio e favor, e também, com empenho deliberado, conter e subjugar os inimigos.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler aiming at prosperity should combine two disciplines: (1) saṅgraha and anugraha—winning, retaining, and supporting people through benevolence; and (2) nigraha—firmly restraining enemies and disruptive forces. Both require steady, intentional effort, and should be pursued without envy or fault-finding.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on practical governance. Here he summarizes a balanced policy: cultivate allies and subjects through favor and inclusion, while also suppressing threats to the kingdom with disciplined resolve.