Shloka 60
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
प्रत्युत्थानासनाद्येन सम्प्रदानेन केनचित् । प्रतिविश्रब्धघाती स्यात् ती3्षणदंष्टो निमग्नक:,(शत्रुके) आनेपर उठकर अगवानी करे, आसन और भोजन दे और कोई प्रिय वस्तु भेंट करे। ऐसे बर्तावोंसे अपने प्रति जिसका पूर्ण विश्वास हो गया हो, उसे भी (अपने लाभके लिये) मारनेमें संकोच न करे। सर्पकी भाँति तीखे दाँतोंसे काटे, जिससे शत्रु फिर उठकर बैठ न सके
pratyutthānāsanādyena sampradānena kenacit | prativiśrabdhaghātī syāt tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭro nimagnakaḥ ||
Kaṇika says: By rising to greet, offering a seat, and giving gifts or some courteous favor, one may win another’s confidence. When the enemy has thus become fully trusting, one should not hesitate—if it serves one’s advantage—to strike him down. Like a serpent with sharp fangs, bite so that the foe cannot rise again.
कणिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a hard-edged nīti (statecraft) principle: use courteous hospitality and gifts to gain an opponent’s trust, then eliminate him decisively for one’s own advantage—likened to a sharp-fanged serpent’s bite.
In Adi Parva, Kaṇika is speaking in a counsel-like context, articulating ruthless political tactics. This verse specifically recommends feigned goodwill—greeting, seating, gifting—to disarm an enemy psychologically before striking.