Shloka 67
काले मृदुर्यो भवति काले भवति दारुण: । प्रसाधयति कृत्यानि शत्रुं चाप्पधितिष्ठति,“जो समयपर कोमल होता है और समयपर कठोर बन जाता है, वह अपने सारे कार्य सिद्ध कर लेता है और शत्रु पर भी उसका अधिकार हो जाता है
kāle mṛdur yo bhavati kāle bhavati dāruṇaḥ | prasādhayati kṛtyāni śatruṃ cāpy adhitīṣṭhati ||
Bhishma said: One who is gentle when the time calls for gentleness, and becomes stern when the time demands sternness, accomplishes all necessary tasks and even gains mastery over the enemy.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is situational discernment (kāla-jñāna): a leader or practitioner of dharma should be gentle when gentleness serves the good, and stern when firmness is required. Such balanced conduct enables success in duties and strategic superiority over adversaries.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and rājanīti (the duties and conduct of a ruler). This verse is part of counsel on effective governance and conduct—how appropriate softness and appropriate severity help accomplish aims and restrain enemies.