Shloka 8

Devanagari script

अनागतमनर्थ हि सुनयैर्य: प्रबाधयेत्‌ । स न संशयमाप्रोति रोचतां भो व्रजामहे,“जो आनेवाले संकटको उसके आनेसे पहले ही अपनी अच्छी नीतिद्दारा मिटा देता है, वह कभी प्राण जानेके संशयमें नहीं पड़ता। यदि आपलोगोंको मेरी बात ठीक जान पड़े तो चलिये, दूसरे जलाशयको चलें”

Transliteration

anāgatam anarthaṁ hi sunayair yaḥ prabādhayet | sa na saṁśayam āpnoti rocatāṁ bho vrajāmahe ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “Indeed, one who, by sound policy and good counsel, wards off a misfortune before it arrives never falls into doubt about the loss of life. If my words seem right to you, then come—let us go to another water-reservoir.”

Word by Word

अनागतम्future, not-yet-come

अनर्थम्misfortune, calamity

हिindeed, for

सु-नयैःby good policies/wise measures

यःwho

प्रबाधयेत्should ward off, should repel

सःhe

नnot

संशयम्doubt, apprehension

आप्नोतिattains, falls into

रोचताम्let it please (you), may it be agreeable

भोO! (vocative particle)

व्रजामहेwe go, let us go

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Forethought is a mark of wise conduct: a person who neutralizes impending harm through sound policy and good counsel avoids the panic and uncertainty that arise when danger is allowed to mature.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, in an instructive context, states a maxim about averting future calamity through prudent measures and then urges the listeners—if they accept his counsel—to move on to another water source (a practical step aligned with the teaching).