Shloka 183
The Thirteen Inner Adversaries (Trayodaśa Doṣāḥ): Origins and Pacification
अरिष्टा: स्यु: सदा कुद्धात् पवनान्नात्र संशय: । “मैं बुद्धिका आश्रय लेकर वायुके भयसे छुटकारा पाऊँगा। यदि वनमें रहनेवाले दूसरे वृक्ष भी उसी बुद्धिका सहारा लेकर रहें तो नि:संदेह कुपित वायुसे उनका कोई अनिष्ट नहीं होगा
ariṣṭāḥ syuḥ sadā kuddhāt pavanān nātra saṁśayaḥ |
Bhishma said: “There is no doubt that from an enraged wind, harm would always arise. Yet one who takes refuge in discerning intelligence can escape the fear of that wind; and if the other trees dwelling in the forest likewise rely upon that same wisdom, then surely the wrathful wind will not bring them any injury.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when external forces are hostile and potentially harmful, taking refuge in buddhi (clear discernment and right understanding) removes fear and prevents harm; wisdom becomes a shared protection when others also adopt it.
Bhishma uses the image of a furious wind threatening forest trees to illustrate how danger naturally follows from uncontrolled force, but how reliance on intelligence and right counsel can avert that danger for oneself and for a community.