Shloka 20
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
सान्त्वयोगमतिः: प्राज्ञ: कार्याकार्यप्रयोजक: । निगूढबुद्धेर्धीरस्य वक्तव्ये वा कृतं तथा
sāntvayogamatiḥ prājñaḥ kāryākāryaprayojakaḥ | nigūḍhabuddher dhīrasya vaktavye vā kṛtaṃ tathā ||
毗湿摩说道：“君王当具备经由和解之道与巧妙论理所锻炼的心智，能促成当为之事，亦能遏止不当之行。王应为智者，劝民趋向本分，阻其陷于非义。然而对于那等坚毅之人，心智深沉而自守严密、能自持者——又何必再加训诫？”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should combine gentle persuasion with practical discernment: promote rightful action (kārya), prevent wrongful action (akārya), and guide others toward dharma. Yet a truly steady and deep-minded person needs little external instruction, because inner clarity already governs conduct.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma (the duties of kings). Here he emphasizes the king’s role as a moral and practical guide—using conciliation and reason—while noting that the genuinely wise and self-possessed are already guided by their own understanding.