Shloka 1
Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)
ऑपन-माजल छा अ<-छकऋाज (आपडद्धर्मपर्व) एकत्रिशदधिकशततमो< ध्याय: आप्त्तिग्रस्त राजाके कर्तव्यका वर्णन युधिछिर उवाच क्षीणस्य दीर्घसूत्रस्य सानुक्रोशस्य बन्धुषु । परिशड्किततवृत्तस्य श्रुतमन्त्रस्य भारत
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kṣīṇasya dīrghasūtrasya sānukrośasya bandhuṣu | pariśaṅkitavṛttasya śrutamantrasya bhārata ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O Bhārata, anong landas pa ang nalalabi para sa isang haring nauubos na ang lakas at yaman; na laging nagpapaliban; na dahil sa labis na habag sa sariling mga kamag‑anak ay hindi sila madala upang harapin ang kaaway sa takot na sila’y mapuksa; na pinaghihinalaan ang asal (o siya mismo’y naghihinala sa asal ng kanyang mga tagapayo); at ang kanyang payo’y narinig na ng iba at hindi na lihim? Kapag ang gayong pinuno ay dinadaganan na ng kapahamakan at nayayanig ang isip, ano ang dapat niyang gawin upang makalaya sa krisis na ito?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a rāja-dharma problem: when a ruler is weakened materially and psychologically, divided by misplaced compassion, and compromised by distrust and leaked strategy, he must seek a disciplined, realistic remedy—restoring secrecy, decisive action, reliable counsel, and protective measures—rather than drifting in delay and fear.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira questions the elder authority (addressed as ‘Bhārata’) about what a distressed king should do when his power is depleted, his decision-making is delayed, his inner circle is unreliable or suspected, and his strategic counsel has been exposed—setting up Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct in political calamity.