Shloka 8
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 72 — Bhīmasena’s counsel on conciliation and Duryodhana’s disposition
यावच्च मार्दवेनैतान् राजन्नुपचरिष्यसि । तावदेते हरिष्यन्ति तव राज्यमरिंदम,अतः शत्रुदमन राजन! जबतक आप इनके साथ नर्मीका बर्ताव करेंगे, तबतक ये आपके राज्यका अपहरण करनेकी ही चेष्टा करेंगे
yāvac ca mārdavenaitān rājann upacariṣyasi | tāvad ete hariṣyanti tava rājyam ariṃdama ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O Hari, habang tinatrato mo sila nang may lambing at mahinahong pagtitiis, habang iyon din ay patuloy silang magsisikap na agawin ang iyong kaharian. Kaya, O manlulupig ng kaaway, dapat malaman ng isang pinuno kung kailan ang kabaitan ay lalo lamang nagpapalakas-loob sa masasama at nag-aanyaya ng higit pang pagsalakay.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
In kingship and public duty, gentleness is virtuous only when it restrains harm; if it enables aggressors, it becomes a fault. A ruler must balance compassion with firmness so that adharma is not rewarded.
Yudhiṣṭhira warns a king that continued soft treatment of hostile parties will only encourage them to keep attempting to usurp the kingdom, urging a more resolute stance in response to persistent aggression.