Shloka 5
Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)
यो<धर्मविजिगीशु: स्याद् बलवान् पापनिश्चय: । आत्मन: संनिरोधेन संधि तेनापि रोचयेत्
yo dharmavijigīṣuḥ syād balavān pāpaniścayaḥ | ātmanaḥ saṃnirodhena sandhiṃ tenāpi rocayet ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Kung may kaaway na naghahangad manakop sa landas ng adharma, makapangyarihan at may masamang pasya, mas nararapat piliin ang kapayapaan kahit sa kanya—pigilin ang sarili at tanggapin ang ilang pagkalugi—kaysa magmadaling sumuong sa tunggaliang maghahatid sa kapahamakan.”
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.