Shloka 11
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
ततस्तान् भेदयित्वा तु परस्परविवक्षितान् | भुज्जीत सान्त्वयंश्वैव यथासुखमयत्नत:
tatas tān bhedayitvā tu paraspara-vivakṣitān | bhuñjīta sāntvayaṁś caiva yathā-sukham ayatnataḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“随后，在那些彼此商议、筹划计谋的人中播下离间之后，君王当在抚慰与安抚的许诺之中，稳固并治理自己所得之利；如此便可不费太多辛劳，而保全自身的安逸与优势。”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma outlines a pragmatic political tactic: weaken potentially coordinated opposition by creating internal divisions (bheda), while simultaneously keeping people calm through reassurance and conciliatory speech (sāntvana), thereby allowing the ruler to secure outcomes with minimal exertion.
In Bhishma’s instruction on kingship and governance in the Shanti Parva, he advises the king on how to handle groups who are consulting together: first disrupt their unity, then pacify them with gentle assurances, and thus maintain control and benefit comfortably.