Shloka 21
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
देवेन्द्र! जो शत्रुको मारना चाहता है, उस पुरुषके लिये बारंबार मौका हाथमें नहीं लगता; अत: जब कभी अवसर मिल जाय, उस समय उसपर अवश्य प्रहार करे ।।
devendra! yo śatruko mārayituṁ kāmayate, tasya puruṣasya bāraṁbāraṁ mauko hastam na lagati; ataḥ yadā kadācit avasaro labhyeta, tadā tasmin avaśyaṁ praharet. yo hi kālo vyatikrāmet puruṣaṁ kālakāṅkṣiṇam, durlabhaḥ sa punaḥ tena kālaḥ karmacikīrṣuṇā.
Bhīṣma said: “O Indra! For a man who seeks to strike down an enemy, opportunities do not repeatedly fall into his hands. Therefore, whenever an opening presents itself, he should certainly act and strike at that very time. For if the fitting moment comes and passes by a man who keeps waiting for ‘the right time,’ that same moment becomes hard to obtain again for one who truly wishes to accomplish his intended deed.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not rely on repeated chances: in matters of conflict and decisive action, a favorable opening is rare. If one delays out of excessive ‘waiting for the right time,’ the very moment needed for success may pass and become difficult to regain.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and policy, Bhishma addresses Devendra (Indra) and articulates a principle of practical ethics and strategy: when confronting an enemy, one should act decisively at the moment of advantage rather than postponing.