Shloka 4
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
तदेतन्नरशार्दूल हृदि त्वं कर्तुमहसि । संधेयानभिसंधत्स्व विरोध्यांश्व विरोधय
tad etan naraśārdūla hṛdi tvaṁ kartum arhasi | sandheyān abhisandhatsva virodhyāṁś ca virodhaya ||
毗湿摩说道：“噢，人中之虎！当将此语牢牢记在心中：可和者与之结盟，可敌者则当坚决相抗。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should practice discernment: pursue peace and alliance with those open to settlement, but confront and restrain those whose stance or actions warrant opposition. Both conciliation and resistance are ethical tools when applied to the right targets.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on rajadharma (the duties of kings). Here he gives a concise rule of governance: choose diplomacy with the reconcilable and firm resistance against the irreconcilable.