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Shloka 6

उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः

Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment

अमित्रा एव राजानं भेदेनोपचरन्त्युत । तां राजा निकृतिं जानन्‌ यथामित्रान्‌ प्रबाधते

amitrā eva rājānaṃ bhedenopacaranti ca | tāṃ rājā nikṛtiṃ jñātvā yathāmitrān prabādhate ||

Bhīṣma nói: Những kẻ không thật là bạn—kỳ thực là địch thủ ngấm ngầm—đến gần nhà vua với vẻ ngoài phụng sự, nhưng bên trong lại tìm cách gieo chia rẽ giữa những người thân cận. Nhận rõ sự gian trá ấy, nhà vua phải kiềm chế và trấn áp họ như đối với kẻ thù công khai, bởi mối thù ẩn giấu như thế đặc biệt nguy hiểm cho việc trị nước theo dharma.

अमित्राःnon-friends, enemies (in the guise of friends)
अमित्राः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअमित्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
एवindeed, only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
राजानम्the king
राजानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
भेदेनby division, by sowing dissension
भेदेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभेद
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
उपचरन्तिthey attend on, they serve (with ulterior motive)
उपचरन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-चर्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
उतand, also
उत:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootउत
ताम्that (deceit/stratagem)
ताम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
राजाthe king
राजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
निकृतिम्deceit, treachery
निकृतिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनिकृति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
जानन्knowing, understanding
जानन्:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
यथाas, like
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
अमित्रान्enemies, non-friends
अमित्रान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअमित्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
प्रबाधतेhe oppresses, subdues, destroys
प्रबाधते:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र- बाध्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
R
rājā (the king)
A
amitra (covert enemies posing as friends)

Educational Q&A

A ruler must not be misled by outward displays of loyalty. Those who create internal divisions while pretending to serve are effectively enemies; recognizing such deceit, the king should check and suppress them to protect the integrity of governance and dharma.

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on rājadharma, he warns about courtly intrigue: false friends infiltrate the king’s inner circle and foment factionalism. Bhīṣma advises the king to identify this treachery and treat such persons as hostile threats.