Shloka 16
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
उत्थानहीनो राजा हि बुद्धिमानपि नित्यश: । प्रधर्षणीय: शत्रूणां भुजड़ इव निर्विष:,“जो राजा उद्योगहीन होता है, वह बुद्धिमान होनेपर भी विषहीन सर्पके समान सदैव शत्रुओंके द्वारा परास्त होता रहता है
utthānahīno rājā hi buddhimān api nityaśaḥ | pradharṣaṇīyaḥ śatrūṇāṃ bhujaṅga iva nirviṣaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Kahit ang isang haring matalino, kung palagi namang salat sa pagsisikap at pagkukusa, nagiging madaling daigin ng mga kaaway—gaya ng ahas na nawala ang kamandag. Ang aral: ang dunong na walang tuluy-tuloy na pagkilos ay hindi makapagtatanggol ng paghahari; ang kapangyarihan ay dapat sandigan ng mapagbantay na gawa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s intelligence alone is insufficient; without continual initiative and energetic action (utthāna), he becomes vulnerable and easily subdued by enemies—like a venomless snake that cannot deter attackers.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on practical governance: he warns that habitual inactivity undermines authority and invites aggression, using a vivid simile to stress the need for constant vigilance and effort.