Shloka 19
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
न सद्यो<5रीन् विहन्याच्च द्रष्टव्यो विजयो ध्रुव: । न शल्यं वा घटयति न वाचा कुरुते व्रणम्
na sadyo'rīn vihanyāc ca draṣṭavyo vijayo dhruvaḥ | na śalyaṃ vā ghaṭayati na vācā kurute vraṇam ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Bậc quân vương chớ vội vàng đánh kẻ thù. Hãy hành động với ánh nhìn vững chắc hướng về thắng lợi tất yếu. Chớ dùng độc dược, và cũng chớ làm tổn thương bằng lời nói cay nghiệt.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should act with patience and strategic clarity, aiming at assured success, and must avoid unethical means—such as poisoning—as well as avoid harming others through cruel, wounding speech.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma is advising the king on proper conduct toward enemies: do not rush into attack, plan for certain victory, and maintain ethical restraint both in methods of war and in speech.