Shloka 65
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
मृदुरित्यवजानन्ति तीक्ष्ण इत्युद्धिजन्ति च । तीक्षणकाले भवेत् तीक्ष्णो मृदुकाले मृदुर्भवेत्
mṛdur ity avajānanti tīkṣṇa ity uddvijanti ca | tīkṣṇakāle bhavet tīkṣṇo mṛdukāle mṛdur bhavet ||
Бхишма сказал: «Если правитель всегда мягок, люди его презирают; если всегда суров, они пугаются и озлобляются. Потому, когда время требует строгости — будь строг; когда время требует мягкости — будь мягок».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and righteous governance requires discernment: a king must balance gentleness and severity according to time and circumstance, avoiding both contempt born of constant softness and fear born of constant harshness.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rāja-dharma (the duties of a king). Here he advises practical ethical conduct in rule: calibrating punishment and kindness to maintain order and public trust.