Shloka 51
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
दुर्गके चारों ओर खाईं खुदवाना
bhīṣma uvāca | durge cāroṃ ora khāīṃ khudvānā, senā kā yuddha ke liye susajjita honā tathā raṇapayātrā karnā, coroṃ aura bhayānaka jaṅgalī luṭeroṃ dvārā śatru ke rāṣṭra ko pīḍā denā, āga lagāne vāle, jahar dene vāle, chadmaveṣadhārī logoṃ dvārā bhī śatru ko hāni pahuṃcānā tathā eka-eka śatrudala ke pradhāna-pradhāna logoṃ meṃ bhed utpanna karnā, phasal aura paudhoṃ ko kāṭ lenā, hāthiyoṃ ko bhaṛkānā, logoṃ meṃ ātaṅka utpanna karnā, śatruoṃ meṃ anurakta puruṣa ko anunaya ādike dvārā phoṛ lenā aura śatrupakṣa ke logoṃ meṃ apne prati viśvāsa utpanna karānā—ādi upāyoṃ se śatru ke rāṣṭra ko pīḍā dene kī kalā kā bhī brahmājī ke ukta grantha meṃ varṇana kiyā gayā hai || 48–50 || saptāṅgasya ca rājyasya hāsa-vṛddhi-samañjasam | dūtasāmarthya-saṃyogāt sa-rāṣṭrasya vivardhanam | śatru-mitra-madhyasthānāṃ vistareṇa samyak vivecanam, balavān śatruoṃ ko kucal ḍālne tathā unse ṭakkar lene kī vidhi—ādikā ukta grantha meṃ varṇana kiyā gayā hai ||
毗湿摩说道：“在传为梵天所著的治国之书中，也将如下之事称为王道之术：环堡掘壕，以固城垒；使军旅常备，整装出征；借盗贼与可怖的林野劫掠者骚扰敌国；又以纵火者、投毒者与乔装之人伤害敌军；在敌方各部主将之间播下离间；砍毁庄稼草木；激怒战象；在民众中散布恐惧；以劝诱与利赏收买敌营中倾向己方之人；并在对方阵营之众心中树立对己之信任。 同一部书亦阐明：由七支构成之国度，其兴、其衰与其平衡维持；凭使臣之才干而扩充自身疆域与资财；对敌、友与中立者作详尽而正确之评断；以及摧折强敌或与之正面交锋之法。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma summarizes a classical manual of polity: a king must understand both defensive preparedness (forts, moats, army readiness) and the full spectrum of political instruments—diplomacy, intelligence, and even disruptive measures—while also maintaining the state’s seven limbs in balanced condition and judging correctly among enemies, allies, and neutrals.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira. Here he cites an authoritative ‘Brahma’ treatise to list practical techniques for weakening an enemy realm and to outline broader topics of governance: the seven-limbed state, the role of envoys, and strategic evaluation of rival powers.