Shloka 14
Vetasa-Nīti: The Reed and the Flood (वेतस-नीति)
एवमेव यदा विद्वान् मन्यते5तिबलं रिपुम् | संश्रयेद् वैतसीं वृत्तिमेतत् प्रज्ञानलक्षणम्
evam eva yadā vidvān manyate ’tibalaṁ ripum | saṁśrayed vaitasīṁ vṛttim etat prajñānalakṣaṇam ||
Bhīṣma dit : «De même, lorsqu’un roi sage juge l’ennemi bien plus puissant que lui, qu’il adopte la conduite “semblable au roseau” : se courber et céder pour un temps. Savoir plier devant une force écrasante est la marque d’une véritable sagesse pratique.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When confronted with an overwhelmingly stronger enemy, wisdom lies in flexible, non-confrontational conduct—temporarily yielding like a reed that bends—so that one preserves strength and opportunity rather than courting ruin.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and policy, Bhīṣma teaches principles of statecraft: he advises that a discerning ruler should assess relative power realistically and, if outmatched, adopt a humble, accommodating stance as a strategic and ethical form of prudence.