Shloka 57
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
आश्चासयेच्चापि परं सान्त्वधर्मार्थिवृत्तिभि: । अथास्य प्रहरेत् काले यदा विचलिते पथि,शत्रुकोी समझा-बुझाकर, धर्म बताकर, धन देकर और सद्व्यवहार करके आश्वासन दे --अपने प्रति उसके मनमें विश्वास उत्पन्न करे; फिर समय आनेपर ज्यों ही वह मार्गसे विचलित हो, त्यों ही उसपर प्रहार करे
āścāsayec cāpi paraṃ sāntva-dharma-arthi-vṛttibhiḥ | athāsya praharet kāle yadā vicalite pathi ||
Kāṇika said: “One should first reassure the other with conciliatory words, with appeals to dharma, with offers of wealth, and with the show of proper conduct—thus creating trust in his mind. Then, when the time is ripe, the moment he strays from his course, one should strike him.”
कणिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a hard-edged nīti (statecraft) tactic: win an opponent’s trust through conciliation, moral talk, gifts, and good conduct, and then strike at the opportune moment when he becomes vulnerable. It highlights the tension in the epic between pragmatic politics and ethical ideals.
Kāṇika is giving counsel on how to deal with an adversary: first disarm him psychologically by reassurance and inducements, then attack when circumstances shift and the opponent deviates or loses footing.