Shloka 5
Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)
यो<धर्मविजिगीशु: स्याद् बलवान् पापनिश्चय: । आत्मन: संनिरोधेन संधि तेनापि रोचयेत्,जो विजय चाहनेवाला शत्रु अधर्मपरायण हो तथा बलवान होनेके साथ ही पापपूर्ण विचार रखता हो, उसके साथ अपना कुछ खोकर भी संधि कर लेनेकी ही इच्छा रखे
yo dharmavijigīṣuḥ syād balavān pāpaniścayaḥ | ātmanaḥ saṃnirodhena sandhiṃ tenāpi rocayet ||
योऽधर्मविजिगीषुः स्याद् बलवान् पापनिश्चयः । आत्मनः संनिरोधेन सन्धिं तेनापि रोचयेत् ॥ यो ह्यधर्मेणैव विजयं कामयेत्, बलवान् पापनिश्चयश्च स्यात्—तेनापि सह आत्मनः संनिरोधेन (स्वहानिं सहित्वा) सन्धिं रोचयेत; न तु विनाशकरं विग्रहं शीघ्रं प्रवर्तयेत्।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When facing a powerful opponent driven by unrighteous and harmful intent, wise policy is to restrain one’s pride and impulses and prefer a peace settlement—even at some cost—if it prevents greater destruction and preserves dharma in the long run.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and statecraft, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about dealing with dangerous adversaries: if the enemy is strong and morally corrupt, a controlled, strategic peace can be preferable to open war.