Shloka 22
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
ओजकश्न जनयेदेव संगृह्नन् साधूसम्मतम् । अकाले साधयेम्मित्रं न च प्राप्ते प्रपीडयेत्
ojakāś ca janayed eva saṅgṛhṇan sādhū-sammatam | akāle sādhayen mitraṁ na ca prāpte prapīḍayet ||
毗湿摩说道：“人当恒常积蓄自身之力，并在贤善之人的认可与劝诫之下行事。良机未至之前，应当巩固盟友、广结朋友，不可过早骚扰仇敌；但当恰当的机会来临时，便不可失手不击。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength should be increased under righteous guidance; one should patiently build alliances and avoid premature aggression, yet act decisively when the proper moment arrives.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira principles of prudent policy: consolidate power and friends first, avoid untimely provocation, and strike only when conditions are ripe.