Shloka 14
(तं दृष्टवा शरभं यान्तं सिंह: परभयातुर: । ऋषिं शरणमापेदे वेपमान: कृताञउ्जलि: ।।) शरभको आते देख सिंह अत्यन्त भयसे व्याकुल हो काँपता हुआ हाथ जोड़कर मुनिकी शरणमें आया ।। त॑ मुनि: शरभं चक्रे बलोत्कटमरिंदम । ततः स शरभो वन्यो मुने: शरभमग्रतः
taṃ dṛṣṭvā śarabhaṃ yāntaṃ siṃhaḥ parabhayāturaḥ | ṛṣiṃ śaraṇamāpede vepamānaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ || tato muniḥ śarabhaṃ cakre balotkaṭam arindama | tataḥ sa śarabho vanyo muneḥ śarabham agrataḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: Seeing the Śarabha approaching, the lion—overwhelmed by fear of a stronger foe—trembling, came to the sage for refuge with folded hands. Then the sage, O subduer of foes, by his power assumed the form of a mighty Śarabha. Thereupon that wild Śarabha stood before the sage’s Śarabha. The episode frames a moral contrast: when confronted by superior force, the proud may seek protection, and the righteous protector responds not with cruelty but with the strength needed to restrain harm and uphold dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When faced with overwhelming danger, seeking refuge in a righteous protector is appropriate; true strength is shown when power is used to protect and restrain harm in accordance with dharma, not to indulge violence.
A Śarabha advances toward a lion. Terrified, the lion approaches a sage and seeks refuge with folded hands. The sage then assumes a powerful Śarabha form, positioning himself before the wild Śarabha—setting up a confrontation where protective power intervenes.