Shloka 65
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
मृदुरित्यवजानन्ति तीक्ष्ण इत्युद्धिजन्ति च । तीक्षणकाले भवेत् तीक्ष्णो मृदुकाले मृदुर्भवेत्
mṛdur ity avajānanti tīkṣṇa ity uddvijanti ca | tīkṣṇakāle bhavet tīkṣṇo mṛdukāle mṛdur bhavet ||
毗湿摩说：“君主若一味温柔，众人便轻慢；若一味严酷，众人便惊惧而怨恨。故当严则严，当柔则柔。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and righteous governance requires discernment: a king must balance gentleness and severity according to time and circumstance, avoiding both contempt born of constant softness and fear born of constant harshness.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rāja-dharma (the duties of a king). Here he advises practical ethical conduct in rule: calibrating punishment and kindness to maintain order and public trust.