Shloka 14
आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्
The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope
स तु कामान्मृगो राजन्नासाद्यासाद्य तं नृपम् । पुनरभ्येति जवनो जवेन महता ततः
sa tu kāmān mṛgo rājann āsādya-āsādya taṃ nṛpam | punar abhyeti javano javena mahatā tataḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Mais ce cerf, poussé par ses propres désirs, s’approchait sans cesse de ce roi puis se retirait ; prompt de nature, il revenait encore, se mouvant avec une grande vitesse.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire makes beings act in repetitive, restless patterns—approaching what attracts them and then fleeing—illustrating how kāma can disturb steadiness and judgment; the implied ethical lesson is the need for restraint and clarity, especially for rulers.
Bhīṣma describes a deer that, compelled by desire, repeatedly comes close to a king and then darts away, returning again with great speed—an image of impulsive attraction and quick retreat.