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 |
যেমন ধোঁয়া বায়ুর অধীন হয়ে চলে, তেমনই ধর্মও বলের অনুসরণ করে। অতএব যেমন লতা বৃক্ষের আশ্রয়ে বিস্তার লাভ করে, তেমনই আশ্রয়হীন ধর্ম বলের উপর নির্ভর করেই স্থিত 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.