Shloka 39
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
ये सपत्ना: सपत्नानां सर्वास्तानुपसेवयेत् । आत्मनश्षापि बोद्धव्याक्षारा विनिहता: परै:
ye sapatnāḥ sapatnānāṁ sarvāṁs tān upasevayet | ātmanaś cāpi boddhavyāḥ cārā vinihatāḥ paraiḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：凡是“敌之敌”，皆当结交并加以利用；同时也应竭力识破他人安插在自己身边的密探。其旨在务实的治国之术：以权宜结盟巩固形势，并对潜伏的威胁保持警觉。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should practice pragmatic diplomacy: cultivate those who oppose one’s opponents (the ‘enemy’s enemy’) and simultaneously maintain strong counterintelligence by identifying spies planted by rivals.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance—how to secure support through strategic associations and how to protect the realm by detecting hostile espionage.