Shloka 17
सर्पान् कुशाग्राणि तथोदपानं ज्ञात्वा मनुष्या: परिवर्जयन्ति | अज्ञानतस्तत्र पतन्ति केचि- ज्ज्ञाने फलं पश्य यथा विशिष्टम्,मनुष्य जब जान लेते हैं कि रास्तेमें सर्प है, कुशोंके काँटे हैं और कुएँ हैं, तब उनसे बचकर निकलते हैं। जो नहीं जानते हैं, ऐसे कितने ही पुरुष उन्हींपर गिर पड़ते हैं। अतः ज्ञानका जो विशिष्ट फल है, उसे तुम प्रत्यक्ष देख लो
sarpān kuśāgrāṇi tathodapānaṃ jñātvā manuṣyāḥ parivarjayanti | ajñānatastatra patanti kecij jñāne phalaṃ paśya yathā viśiṣṭam ||
Bhishma said: “When people recognize that there are snakes on the path, sharp tips of kuśa grass, and a well, they avoid them and pass safely. But through ignorance some fall into those very dangers. See, therefore, how exceptional and evident is the fruit of knowledge.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Knowledge has a practical, protective value: recognizing dangers enables avoidance, while ignorance leads to preventable suffering. Bhishma highlights jñāna as an immediately verifiable benefit in ethical life.
In Bhishma’s instruction (Shanti Parva), he uses a simple road-side analogy—snakes, sharp grass, and a well—to show Yudhisthira that discernment and right understanding guide safe conduct, whereas lack of awareness causes people to stumble into harm.