Shloka 53
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
“शत्रु ककणाजनक वचन बोल रहा हो तो भी उसे मारे बिना न छोड़े। जिसने पहले अपना अपकार किया हो, उसको अवश्य मार डाले और उसमें दु:ख न माने ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | saṅgrahānugrahe yatnaḥ sadā kāryo 'n-asūyatā | nigrahaś cāpi yatnena kartavyo bhūtim icchatā ||
毗湿摩说：纵使敌人说出安抚人心的话，也不可不杀而纵之。凡先前加害于我者，必当诛灭，不可为之悲恸。求富强与王权的君主，应弃苛察之心与嫉妒之念，常以扶持与恩泽笼络并维系人心，使之归附；同时亦当用心用力，约束并镇压诸敌。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler aiming at prosperity should combine two disciplines: (1) saṅgraha and anugraha—winning, retaining, and supporting people through benevolence; and (2) nigraha—firmly restraining enemies and disruptive forces. Both require steady, intentional effort, and should be pursued without envy or fault-finding.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on practical governance. Here he summarizes a balanced policy: cultivate allies and subjects through favor and inclusion, while also suppressing threats to the kingdom with disciplined resolve.