Shloka 1
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
ऑपन--माजर बक। अप ऋाय ग>र्योधिकशततमो< ध्याय: शत्रुको वशमें करनेके लिये राजाको किस नीतिसे काम लेना चाहिये और दुष्टोंको कैसे पहचानना चाहिये--इसके विषयमें इन्द्र और बृहस्पतिका संवाद युधिछिर उवाच कथं मृदौ कथं तीक्ष्णे महापक्षे च पार्थिव । आदी वर्तेत नृपतिस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | kathaṁ mṛdau kathaṁ tīkṣṇe mahāpakṣe ca pārthiva | ādau varteta nṛpatis tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Lolo, O hari! Sabihin mo sa akin ito: kapag ang kaaway ay may dakila at makapangyarihang sandigan, paano dapat unang kumilos ang isang pinuno—kung ang kaaway ay maamo ang likas, at paano naman kung siya’y mabagsik at mapanugod? Ituro mo sa akin ang nararapat na unang hakbang ng patakarang panghari sa bawat kalagayan.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a rājadharma problem: a king must tailor his initial policy to an opponent’s temperament (gentle vs. harsh) while also weighing the opponent’s power base (mahāpakṣa). It introduces the ethical-political principle that prudent governance adapts means to circumstances rather than applying one rigid approach.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira seeks instruction from Bhīṣma on kingship and moral governance. Here he asks Bhīṣma to explain how a ruler should begin dealing with a strongly supported enemy, distinguishing between an enemy who is mild and one who is severe.