Shloka 36
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
न बहूनभियुञ्जीत यौगपद्येन शात्रवान् । साम्ना दानेन भेदेन दण्डेन च पुरंदर
na bahūn abhiyuñjīta yaugapadyena śātravān | sāmnā dānena bhedena daṇḍena ca puraṃdara ||
毗湿摩曰：“噢，普兰达罗，不可同时向众多敌人发起进攻。应当巧用和（劝和）、赐（馈赠）、离（离间）、罚（惩治）之策，逐一制服诸敌，然后再碾碎余下的敌对之势。即便强盛而睿智的君王，也不应一开始便同时图灭一切仇敌。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should avoid overextension: do not confront multiple enemies simultaneously; instead apply the four upāyas—conciliation, gifts, division, and punishment—strategically to neutralize foes one by one.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the ruler (addressed as Puraṃdara) on practical policy: how to manage hostile powers through calibrated diplomacy and force rather than reckless, simultaneous warfare.