Shloka 8
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
आपद्द्वारेषु युक्त: स्याज्जलप्रस्रवणेष्विव । शैलवर्षोदकानीव द्विजान् सिद्धान् समाश्रयेत् । अर्थकाम: शिखां राजा कुर्याद्धर्मध्वजोपमाम्
āpad-dvāreṣu yuktaḥ syāj jala-prasravaṇeṣv iva | śaila-varṣodakānīva dvijān siddhān samāśrayet | artha-kāmaḥ śikhāṁ rājā kuryād dharma-dhvajopamām ||
毗湿摩说：“国王当常在祸患可能侵入的‘关门要道’处保持警觉——如人们在水势将决之处加固堤防。又如人们取用并依凭山雨汇聚之水，国王亦当依止成就的婆罗门（siddha）。此外，为求利害，国王甚至可以暂取外在的德行标识——如伪善者以发髻为‘法（dharma）’之旗——以成其所欲。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must proactively secure points of vulnerability against impending crises, rely on competent spiritual-intellectual advisers (siddha Brahmins), and recognize that political life can involve strategic use of outward symbols of virtue—while warning that such ‘dharma-banner’ display can be hypocritical when driven purely by self-interest.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance: fortify weak points before disaster strikes, seek guidance from accomplished Brahmins, and understand how rulers may adopt public signs of righteousness to achieve political ends.