Shloka 37
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
संधिश्ष त्रिविधाभिख्यो हीनो मध्यस्तथोत्तम: । भयसत्कारवित्ताख्य॑ कार्त्स्न्येन परिवर्णितम्
sandhiś ca trividho ’bhikhyo hīno madhyas tathottamaḥ | bhaya-satkāra-vittākhyāḥ kārtsnyena parivarṇitam ||
毗湿摩说道：“诸论典记载，盟约（sandhi）有三等：下、中、上。它们依次称为因恐惧而结之盟、为礼敬与名誉而结之盟、以及以财富或物质利益而结之盟。其一切特征，权威典籍皆已详尽阐明。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma classifies political alliances into three ethical-political types—fear-based (inferior), honor-based (middling), and wealth/advantage-based (superior)—highlighting that motives behind peace determine its quality and stability.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira principles of diplomacy, explaining how alliances are categorized in statecraft literature and what names and ranks they receive.