Shloka 34
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
मृदुमप्यवमन्यन्ते तीक्ष्णादुद्धविजते जन: । मा तीक्ष्णो मा मृदुर्भूस्त्वं तीक्ष्णो भव मृदुर्भव
mṛdum apy avamanyante tīkṣṇād udvijate janaḥ | mā tīkṣṇo mā mṛdur bhūs tvaṃ tīkṣṇo bhava mṛdur bhava ||
毗湿摩曰：百姓甚至轻蔑过于柔弱的君主，也会因过于严酷者而惶惧。故汝不可唯刚，亦不可唯柔；时当严则严，宜当和则和。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective rulership requires balance: excessive softness invites contempt, while excessive harshness provokes fear and resentment. A king should apply gentleness and severity according to time, place, and need.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on practical statecraft and ethical governance, emphasizing measured conduct rather than extremes.