Shloka 8
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 72 — Bhīmasena’s counsel on conciliation and Duryodhana’s disposition
यावच्च मार्दवेनैतान् राजन्नुपचरिष्यसि । तावदेते हरिष्यन्ति तव राज्यमरिंदम,अतः शत्रुदमन राजन! जबतक आप इनके साथ नर्मीका बर्ताव करेंगे, तबतक ये आपके राज्यका अपहरण करनेकी ही चेष्टा करेंगे
yāvac ca mārdavenaitān rājann upacariṣyasi | tāvad ete hariṣyanti tava rājyam ariṃdama ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Ó rei, enquanto os tratares com brandura e paciente tolerância, eles continuarão a esforçar-se para tomar o teu reino. Portanto, ó subjugador de inimigos, um governante deve reconhecer quando a mansidão apenas encoraja o injusto e convida a novas agressões.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
In kingship and public duty, gentleness is virtuous only when it restrains harm; if it enables aggressors, it becomes a fault. A ruler must balance compassion with firmness so that adharma is not rewarded.
Yudhiṣṭhira warns a king that continued soft treatment of hostile parties will only encourage them to keep attempting to usurp the kingdom, urging a more resolute stance in response to persistent aggression.