Shloka 21
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
किसी बलवान् शत्रुका अपकार करके हम दूर जाकर रहेंगे, ऐसा समझकर निश्चिन्त नहीं होना चाहिये; क्योंकि जैसे बाज पक्षी झपट्टा मारता है, उसी प्रकार ये दूरस्थ शत्रु भी असावधानीकी अवस्थामें टूट पड़ते हैं ।।
dṛḍhamūlas tv aduṣṭātmā viditvā balam ātmanaḥ | abalān abhiyuñjīta na tu ye balavattarāḥ ||
瓦摩提婆说道：不可自安而想：“我已得罪强敌，远走他方便可无虞。”因为如鹰隼突袭，纵在远方的敌人也会趁人疏忽而骤然扑至。故王者当先固其根本，使都城与根据地坚牢安稳，令敌势远离；继而明察自家兵力。然后方可攻伐弱于己者；切莫贸然进击强于己者。
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should act from a secure position, measure his own strength realistically, and engage only opponents he can responsibly overcome; attacking stronger foes is condemned as reckless and harmful to the kingdom.
In the Śānti Parva’s rājadharma instruction, Vāmadeva addresses the king with practical-ethical counsel on warfare: consolidate the realm’s security, evaluate capability, and choose conflicts with restraint rather than bravado.