Shloka 1
Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)
ऑपन-माजल छा अ<-छकऋाज (आपडद्धर्मपर्व) एकत्रिशदधिकशततमो< ध्याय: आप्त्तिग्रस्त राजाके कर्तव्यका वर्णन युधिछिर उवाच क्षीणस्य दीर्घसूत्रस्य सानुक्रोशस्य बन्धुषु । परिशड्किततवृत्तस्य श्रुतमन्त्रस्य भारत
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kṣīṇasya dīrghasūtrasya sānukrośasya bandhuṣu | pariśaṅkitavṛttasya śrutamantrasya bhārata ||
尤狄史提罗说道：“噢，婆罗多啊，一个国王若已被耗尽了力量与资财；又因拖延而迟疑不决；又因对宗亲过度怜悯，恐其覆灭而不敢率之迎敌；其行止为人所疑（或他自己疑忌群臣之行）；其谋议又被人窃听，不复为密——当这样的君主已为灾厄所逼、心神震荡之时，他还剩下什么道路？他当如何行，方能脱此危局？”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a rāja-dharma problem: when a ruler is weakened materially and psychologically, divided by misplaced compassion, and compromised by distrust and leaked strategy, he must seek a disciplined, realistic remedy—restoring secrecy, decisive action, reliable counsel, and protective measures—rather than drifting in delay and fear.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira questions the elder authority (addressed as ‘Bhārata’) about what a distressed king should do when his power is depleted, his decision-making is delayed, his inner circle is unreliable or suspected, and his strategic counsel has been exposed—setting up Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct in political calamity.