Shloka 45
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
अरक्षितारं राजानं भार्या चाप्रियवादिनीम् | ग्रामकामं च गोपालं वनकामं॑ च नापितम्
arakṣitāraṁ rājānaṁ bhāryā cāpriyavādinīm | grāmakāmaṁ ca gopālaṁ vanakāmaṁ ca nāpitam ||
قال بهيشما: «ينبغي أن يُهجر ملكٌ لا يقدر على الحماية، وزوجةٌ سليطةُ اللسان، وراعٍ للبقر (gopāla) لا يشتاق إلا لحياة القرية، وحلّاق (nāpita) يتوق إلى الغابة. فهؤلاء، لعدم صلاحهم لأدوارهم، يُتركون—كما يُطرح القارب المكسور عند خوض رحلةٍ في المحيط.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches role-based ethics: when a person entrusted with a duty (protection, supportive speech, or a livelihood suited to their station) fails or is fundamentally misaligned with that role, continued dependence on them becomes harmful; therefore, one should withdraw association, like discarding a broken boat before a dangerous journey.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and practical governance. Here he gives a pointed maxim: certain relationships or service-providers should be abandoned when they cannot fulfill their essential function, illustrating the point with the metaphor of leaving a damaged boat before an ocean crossing.