अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
प्रत्यक्षा च परोक्षा च वृत्तिश्चास्य भवेत् समा | एवं कुर्वन् नरेन्द्रोडपि न खेदमिह विन्दति
pratyakṣā ca parokṣā ca vṛttiś cāsya bhavet samā | evaṁ kurvan narendro ’pi na khedam iha vindati ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Maging sa mga bagay na nakikita nang tuwiran o sa mga nalalaman lamang nang di-tuwiran, dapat panatilihin ng hari ang iisang makatarungang pag-uugali sa kanila. Ang pinunong kumikilos nang may ganitong timbang ay hindi mapapahamak ni magdurusa sa daigdig na ito.”
भीष्म उवाच
A king should apply the same standard of conduct and judgment to what is directly evident and what is only indirectly known, maintaining impartiality; such evenness protects him from worldly distress.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the ruler on sound governance, emphasizing consistent, unbiased policy in both visible and non-visible (reported/inferred) matters.