Mahabharata 1.140.82 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 140, Shloka 82
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
भीतवत् संविधातव्यं यावद् भयमनागतम् । आगतं तु भयं दृष्टवा प्रहर्तव्यमभीतवत्
bhītavat saṃvidhātavyaṃ yāvad bhayam anāgatam | āgataṃ tu bhayaṃ dṛṣṭvā prahartavyam abhītavat ||
যেতিয়ালৈকে বিপদ আহি নাপায়, তেতিয়ালৈকে ভীতৰ দৰে সাৱধানতা অৱলম্বন কৰি তাক আঁতৰাবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰিব লাগে; কিন্তু বিপদ সন্মুখত আহি পৰিল বুলি দেখিলেই, তেতিয়া নিৰ্ভয়ে শত্রুৰ ওপৰত প্ৰহাৰ কৰিব লাগে।
कणिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a two-stage ethic of action: before a threat fully manifests, behave with caution and preventive planning; once the threat is present and unavoidable, abandon hesitation and respond decisively and fearlessly.
Kaṇika is giving counsel in a political-ethical register (nīti), outlining how a ruler or agent should handle looming versus immediate danger—first by prudent avoidance and preparation, then by bold action when confrontation becomes necessary.
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