Shloka 28
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
तस्मात् तीक्षण: प्रजा राजा स्वधर्मे स्थापयेत् ततः । अन्योन्यं भक्षयन्तो हि प्रचरेयुर्वका इव,अतः तीक्ष्ण स्वभाववाला राजा ही प्रजाको अपने-अपने धर्ममें स्थापित कर सकता है; अन्यथा प्रजावर्गके सब लोग भेड़ियोंके समान एक दूसरेको लूट-खसोटकर खाते हुए स्वच्छन्द विचरने लगें
tasmāt tīkṣṇaḥ prajā rājā svadharme sthāpayet tataḥ | anyonyaṁ bhakṣayanto hi pracareyur vakā iva ||
तस्मात् तीक्ष्णः प्रजाराजा स्वधर्मे स्थापयेत् ततः । अन्योन्यं भक्षयन्तो हि प्रचरेयुर्वृका इव ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that effective kingship requires firm enforcement of dharma: a ruler must keep people established in their proper duties; without such restraint, society collapses into mutual predation and lawlessness.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about governance, warning that if a king is not stern in upholding order, the subjects will harm one another and wander unchecked like wolves.