Shloka 2
धर्म्यविजय-नियमाः
Rules for Dharmic Victory in Kṣatriya Engagement
भीष्म उवाच ससहायो<सहायो वा राष्ट्रमागम्य भूमिप: । ब्रूयादहं वो राजेति रक्षिष्यामि च व: सदा
bhīṣma uvāca: sa-sahāyo ’sahāyo vā rāṣṭram āgamya bhūmipaḥ | brūyād ahaṃ vo rājeti rakṣiṣyāmi ca vaḥ sadā ||
بھیشم نے کہا—اے راجن! بادشاہ مددگاروں کے ساتھ ہو یا تنہا، جس ریاست کو اپنے اقتدار میں لانا چاہے، وہاں پہنچ کر اہلِ ملک سے یوں کہے: ‘میں تمہارا بادشاہ ہوں؛ میں ہمیشہ تمہاری حفاظت کروں گا۔’
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames legitimate kingship as grounded in a public commitment to protection: a ruler’s claim over a realm is ethically tied to the vow to safeguard its people, whether he comes with allies or alone.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma, he describes the proper procedure for a king approaching a realm he seeks to rule: upon entering, he should openly declare himself king and promise continual protection to the inhabitants.