Shloka 37

अदारा-नीति

Crisis Composure) and ‘Jaya’ Śravaṇa (Morale-Instruction

Devanagari script

त॑ विदित्वा पराक्रान्तं वशे न कुरुते यदि । निवदिरनिविदेदेनमन्ततस्तद्‌ भविष्यति

Transliteration

taṁ viditvā parākrāntaṁ vaśe na kurute yadi | nivedair anivedyenaṁ antatas tad bhaviṣyati, yadi śatruko parākramasampanna jānkar apanī asamarthatāke kāraṇ use vaśameṁ na kar sake to use viśvasanīya dūtoṁdvārā sāma evaṁ dāna nītikā prayog karke anukūl banā le (jisse vah ākramaṇ na karke śānta baiṭhā rahe) | aisā karanese antogatvā usakā vaśīkaraṇ ho jāygā

Translation

“Đã biết đối phương hùng mạnh, nếu vì bất lực mà không thể khuất phục bằng vũ lực, thì hãy sai sứ giả đáng tin, dùng sách lược hòa hoãn (sāma) và ban tặng (dāna) để khiến hắn thuận theo, ngồi yên trong hòa bình thay vì hung hăng tiến công. Làm như vậy, rốt cuộc hắn sẽ bị đặt dưới ảnh hưởng của ta.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'viditvā', 'definition': 'having known/understood, after recognizing'}, {'term': 'parākrānta / parākrama-sampanna', 'definition': 'mighty, endowed with valor and strength'}, {'term': 'vaśe (kartuṁ)', 'definition': 'to bring under control, to subdue, to win over'}, {'term': 'yadi', 'definition': 'if'}, {'term': 'niveda', 'definition': 'message, representation

• (here) diplomatic approach via envoys'}, {'term': 'dūta', 'definition': 'messenger, envoy'}, {'term': 'viśvasanīya', 'definition': 'trustworthy, reliable'}, {'term': 'sāma', 'definition': 'conciliation, gentle persuasion'}, {'term': 'dāna', 'definition': 'gift, concession, inducement'}, {'term': 'nīti', 'definition': 'policy, statecraft, prudent strategy'}, {'term': 'anukūla', 'definition': 'favorable, compliant, well-disposed'}, {'term': 'antatas / antogatvā', 'definition': 'in the end, ultimately'}, {'term': 'bhaviṣyati', 'definition': 'it will happen

Speaker

पुत्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• śatru (enemy/adversary)
• dūta (envoys/messengers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When direct subjugation is not feasible against a strong opponent, wise policy recommends non-violent instruments of statecraft—conciliation and strategic giving—through reliable envoys, aiming to prevent aggression and secure eventual compliance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel on political strategy before war, the speaker (the son) advises a ruler on handling a powerful enemy: if force cannot control him, use diplomatic messaging via trustworthy envoys and apply sāma (conciliation) and dāna (gifts/concessions) to neutralize hostility.