Shloka 15
आपद्धर्मे राज्ञः नीतिः — Bharadvāja’s Counsel on Crisis-Statecraft (Śānti Parva 138)
गृह्मेव तदुद्यानं गृहीत्वा तं तथैव सः । सवनिव च तांस्तत्र ते विदुर्गथितानिति,वह जाल मुखसे पकड़ने योग्य था; अतः उसकी ताँतको मुहमें लेकर वह भी अन्य मछलियोंकी तरह बँधा हुआ प्रतीत होने लगा। मछलीमारोंने उन सब मछलियोंको वहाँ बँधा हुआ ही समझा
gṛhītvā tadudyānaṃ gṛhītvā taṃ tathaiva saḥ | sa-vanīva ca tāṃs tatra te vidur gathitān iti ||
Bhīṣma said: “Seizing that device as one would a snare, he held it so that he appeared just like the others. Taking the cord into his mouth, he looked as though he too was bound like the rest; therefore the fishermen there understood all of them to be tied up.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward appearance can mislead observers, and how presence of mind can create a protective disguise. Ethically, it cautions against judging solely by what seems evident and illustrates strategic conduct in peril.
A figure (described by Bhīṣma) takes hold of a binding cord/device and holds it in his mouth so that he appears to be tied like the other fish. The fishermen, seeing the same outward sign of being bound, assume all are equally secured.