Shloka 38
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
यदा स्यान्महती सेना हयनागरथाकुला । पदातियन्त्रबहुला अनुरक्ता षडज्धिनी
yadā syān mahatī senā hayanāgarathākulā | padātiyantrabahulā anuraktā ṣaḍaṅginī ||
毗湿摩说道：当国王拥有一支浩大的军队——马、象、战车充盈，步兵与攻守器械齐备，六军之分完备无缺——且全军忠诚依附其主；又当他察觉己方相较于敌方在诸多方面日益兴盛之时，便不应再怀他念与迟疑，而应公开出击，痛击盗贼与劫掠之徒，以镇压侵夺，护持社会秩序与法（dharma）。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should act decisively against banditry and plunder once he has a strong, well-equipped, loyal, fully constituted army and sees favorable conditions. Royal power is justified here as protective force in service of dharma and public safety.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on statecraft: when the ruler’s military strength and cohesion are established and circumstances are advantageous, he should openly commence operations against criminals who prey on society.