Shloka 12
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
अल्पोडप्यनिनिर्वनं कृत्स्नं दहत्याश्रयसंश्रयात् । अन्ध: स्यादन्धवेलायां बाधिययमपि चाश्रयेत्,“क्योंकि जैसे थोड़ी-तसी भी आग ईंधनका सहारा मिल जानेपर समूचे वनको जला देती है, उसी प्रकार छोटा शत्रु भी दुर्ग आदि प्रबल आश्रयका सहारा लेकर विनाशकारी बन जाता है। अंधा बननेका अवसर आनेपर अंधा बन जाय--अर्थात् अपनी असमर्थताके समय शत्रुके दोषोंको न देखे। उस समय सब ओरसे धिक््कार और निन्दा मिलनेपर भी उसे अनसुनी कर दे अर्थात् उसकी ओरसे कान बंद करके बहरा बन जाय
vaiśampāyana uvāca | alpo 'py anirvāṇaḥ kṛtsnaṃ dahaty āśraya-saṃśrayāt | andhaḥ syād andha-velāyāṃ bādhirīyam api cāśrayet ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Even a small fire, once it finds support in fuel, can burn an entire forest. In the same way, even a minor enemy, when backed by a strong refuge such as a fort or powerful allies, becomes capable of destruction. Therefore, when the time comes that one must ‘be blind,’ let him be blind—do not look for the enemy’s faults when one is powerless to act. And even if reproach and condemnation come from all sides, let him also take up ‘deafness’—close his ears and endure.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not underestimate a small threat: with strong backing it can become ruinous. When one lacks the power to correct a situation, practice strategic restraint—overlook provocations and endure criticism rather than act rashly.
Vaiśampāyana delivers a nīti-style maxim using the image of a small fire consuming a whole forest once it gains fuel. He applies it to enmity and counsel: a minor foe supported by a strong refuge becomes dangerous, so one should sometimes deliberately ignore faults and even public blame to avoid greater harm.