Shloka 47
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
न च राज्यसमो धर्म: कश्चिदस्ति परंतप । धर्म: संशब्दितो राज्ञामापदर्थमतोडन्यथा
na ca rājya-samo dharmaḥ kaścid asti parantapa | dharmaḥ saṃśabdito rājñām āpad-artham ato 'nyathā, parantapa ||
毗湿摩说道：“焚敌者啊，世间没有任何义务能与守护并维系王权相等。此处所说的‘法（dharma）’，只是在灾厄之时为君主所设的权宜之策；在寻常境况下，不可将其视为常规。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma prioritizes rāja-dharma: for a ruler, safeguarding the kingdom is the highest duty. He also draws a boundary—certain exceptional measures (āpad-dharma) are permitted only during crises and should not be normalized in peaceful times.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira receives instruction from Bhīṣma on statecraft and ethics after the war. Here Bhīṣma clarifies that the earlier-discussed special rule is meant for emergencies affecting rulers, while the ordinary standard of conduct applies otherwise.