Shloka 1
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
/ - यदि शत्रुपर चढ़ाई की जाय और वह अपनेसे बलवान सिद्ध हो तो उससे मेल कर लेना 'सन्धि' नामक गुण है। यदि दोनोंमें समान बल हो तो लड़ाई जारी रखना '“विग्रह” है। यदि शत्रु दुर्बल हो तो उस अवस्थामें उसके दुर्ग आदिपर जो आक्रमण किया जाता है
bhīṣma uvāca | etat te rājadharmāṇāṃ navanītaṃ yudhiṣṭhira | bṛhaspatir hi bhagavān nyāyyaṃ dharmaṃ praśaṃsati ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Yudhishthira, ang ipinaliwanag ko sa iyo ay siyang ‘mantikilya’—ang pinakapinong diwa—ng mga tungkulin ng isang hari. Sapagkat maging ang kagalang-galang na si Brihaspati ay pumupuri sa dharmang ito bilang makatarungan at kaayon ng wastong patakaran.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his counsel on kingship as the distilled essence of rajadharma and validates it by invoking Brihaspati, an authoritative teacher of dharma and statecraft, emphasizing that sound governance must align with justice (nyaya).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira after the war, Bhishma concludes or seals a section of royal counsel by declaring it the ‘butter’ (essence) of kingly duty and citing Brihaspati’s approval of such just dharma.