Shloka 11
Kāpavya-carita (कापव्यचरित) — Reforming Dasyus through Regulated Rāja-Dharma
बहवो ग्रामवास्तव्या रोषाद् ब्रूयु: परस्परम् । न तेषां वचनाद् राजा सत्कुर्याद् घातयीत वा
bahavo grāmavāstavya roṣād brūyuḥ parasparam | na teṣāṁ vacanād rājā satkuryād ghātayīta vā ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kapag maraming taga-nayon, dahil sa galit, ay nagsusumbatan sa harap ng hari—pinupuri ang ilan at sinisisi ang iba—hindi nararapat na ang pinuno, sa lakas lamang ng kanilang mga salita, ay magparusa kaninuman o maggawad ng karangalan kaninuman. Huwag hayaang ang alitan ng madla at mga ulat na may kinikilingan ang maging saligan ng paghatol; kumilos lamang matapos ang masusing pagsisiyasat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not base punishment or honor solely on angry, partisan reports. Justice requires restraint and verification; public quarrels and mutual accusations are unreliable grounds for royal action.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma advises the king (Yudhiṣṭhira contextually) that when villagers come in anger accusing and praising each other, the king should neither punish nor reward merely on their testimony.