Shloka 10
Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)
प्रमाणं सर्वभूतेषु गत्वा च ग्रहणं महत् । ततः सुह्ृद्बलं लब्ध्वा मन्त्रयित्वा सुमन्त्रिभि:
pramāṇaṃ sarvabhūteṣu gatvā ca grahaṇaṃ mahat | tataḥ suhṛdbalaṃ labdhvā mantrayitvā sumantribhiḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kapag nakihalubilo ka na sa lahat upang maitatag ang iyong kredibilidad at katayuan, at nakamit mo ang malaking suporta, saka—pagkatapos makuha ang lakas ng mga tapat na kaibigang may mabuting hangarin—magpayo at magpasya kasama ng mahuhusay na tagapayo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and ethical governance requires first establishing public credibility and broad acceptance, then securing dependable allies, and finally making decisions through careful consultation with wise ministers rather than acting impulsively.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king on practical steps of rule: build legitimacy and support, gather the strength of well-wishers, and deliberate with competent counsellors before undertaking major actions.