Shloka 20
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यात्रामाज्ञापयेद् वीर: कल्य: पुष्टबल: सुखी । पूर्व कृत्वा विधान च यात्रायां नगरे तथा
yātrām ājñāpayet vīraḥ kalyaḥ puṣṭabalaḥ sukhī | pūrvaṃ kṛtvā vidhānaṃ ca yātrāyāṃ nagare tathā ||
قابل، تندرست، مضبوط لشکر والا اور آسائش کے وسائل سے بہرہ مند دلیر بادشاہ کو چاہیے کہ پہلے اپنے شہر و مملکت کی حفاظت وغیرہ کا مناسب انتظام کر لے، پھر ہی لشکرکشی (یात्रا) کا حکم دے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should not rush into war: he must first ensure readiness—especially the security and administration of his own capital and realm—and only then order a campaign, acting from strength and proper provision rather than impulse.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on royal duty, Bhīṣma counsels the king on when to initiate a military march: after making prior arrangements and safeguarding the city, the king may command the army to set out.