Shloka 41
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
क्षयं वृद्धि पालन संचयं वा बुद्ध्वाप्युभी संहतौ सर्वकामौ । ततकश्चान्यन्मतिमान् संदधीत तस्माद् राजा बुद्धिमत्तां श्रयेत
kṣayaṁ vṛddhiṁ pālana-saṁcayaṁ vā buddhvāpy ubhī saṁhatau sarva-kāmau | tataḥ kaś cānyan matimān sandadhīta tasmād rājā buddhimattāṁ śrayeta ||
毗湿摩说道：既明了损与益、守与积，又洞察权势与享乐恒常交织、相互依存；智王便当据此决断对敌之道：或结盟，或交恶。因此，在此等筹谋之时，君主应依止贤者之谋略。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must weigh loss and gain, security and accumulation, and the interdependence of power and enjoyment; only after such assessment should he choose peace (alliance) or conflict with an enemy, relying on wise counsel.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance: strategic decisions about treaty or hostility should be made after careful evaluation and consultation with the wise.