Shloka 31
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
सुपुष्पित: स्थादफल: फलवान् स्याद् दुरारुह: । आम: स्यात् पक्वसंकाशो न च शीर्येत कस्यचित्,“नीतिज्ञ राजा ऐसे वृक्षके समान रहे, जिसमें फूल तो खूब लगे हों, परंतु फल न हो। फल लगनेपर भी उसपर चढ़ना अत्यन्त कठिन हो, वह रहे तो कच्चा, पर दीखे पकेके समान तथा स्वयं कभी जीर्ण-शीर्ण न हो
supūṣpitaḥ sthād aphalaḥ phalavān syād durāruhaḥ | āmaḥ syāt pakvasaṅkāśo na ca śīryeta kasyacit ||
Bhishma said: “Let the king who understands polity be like a tree—abundant in blossoms yet without fruit; and even if it bears fruit, let it be hard to climb. Let it remain unripe while seeming ripe, and let it never wither away for anyone.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should be outwardly impressive yet not easily exploitable: he should not offer easy ‘fruit’ to greedy people, should be difficult to ‘climb’ (approach for undue gain), should keep intentions and resources guarded (unripe though seeming ripe), and should maintain enduring strength so the kingdom is not worn down by constant demands.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma and nīti, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on qualities of effective kingship, using a vivid tree simile to describe how a prudent king should manage accessibility, generosity, and strategic reserve.