Shloka 7
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
धूमो वायोरिव वशे बलं धर्मो<डनुवर्तते । अनीथश्वरो बले धर्मो द्रुमे वललीव संश्रिता
bhīṣma uvāca | dhūmo vāyor iva vaśe balaṃ dharmo 'nuvartate | anīśvaraḥ bale dharmo drume vallīva saṃśritaḥ |
যেনেকৈ ধোঁৱা বতাহৰ বশত চলি থাকে, তেনেকৈ ধৰ্মো বলৰ অনুসৰণ কৰে। সেয়ে যেনেকৈ লতা গছৰ আশ্ৰয় লৈ বিস্তাৰ লাভ কৰে, তেনেকৈ আশ্ৰয়হীন ধৰ্ম বলৰ ওপৰত ভৰ দিয়েই স্থিৰ থাকে।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches a hard political-ethical realism: in society, dharma often becomes effective only when supported by strength and authority; without enforcement and protection, righteousness remains dependent and vulnerable.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira, using vivid analogies (smoke guided by wind; a creeper supported by a tree) to explain how moral order in the world tends to rely on power for its operation and stability.