Shloka 14
Vetasa-Nīti: The Reed and the Flood (वेतस-नीति)
एवमेव यदा विद्वान् मन्यते5तिबलं रिपुम् | संश्रयेद् वैतसीं वृत्तिमेतत् प्रज्ञानलक्षणम्
evam eva yadā vidvān manyate ’tibalaṁ ripum | saṁśrayed vaitasīṁ vṛttim etat prajñānalakṣaṇam ||
قال بهيشما: «وكذلك إذا رأى الملك الحكيم أنّ العدوّ أشدّ منه قوّةً بكثير، فليتّخذ سلوك “القصبة”؛ أي لينحنِ ويُذعن له حينًا. إنّ القدرة على الانثناء أمام القوّة الطاغية علامةُ الحكمة العملية الحقّة.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When confronted with an overwhelmingly stronger enemy, wisdom lies in flexible, non-confrontational conduct—temporarily yielding like a reed that bends—so that one preserves strength and opportunity rather than courting ruin.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and policy, Bhīṣma teaches principles of statecraft: he advises that a discerning ruler should assess relative power realistically and, if outmatched, adopt a humble, accommodating stance as a strategic and ethical form of prudence.