Shloka 7
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
धूमो वायोरिव वशे बलं धर्मो<डनुवर्तते । अनीथश्वरो बले धर्मो द्रुमे वललीव संश्रिता
bhīṣma uvāca | dhūmo vāyor iva vaśe balaṃ dharmo 'nuvartate | anīśvaraḥ bale dharmo drume vallīva saṃśritaḥ |
Bhishma dit : Comme la fumée se meut sous l’empire du vent, ainsi le dharma suit la force. Le dharma, lorsqu’il manque de maîtrise et d’appui, dépend de la puissance ; tel un lierre qui ne s’étend qu’en prenant refuge sur un arbre.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches a hard political-ethical realism: in society, dharma often becomes effective only when supported by strength and authority; without enforcement and protection, righteousness remains dependent and vulnerable.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira, using vivid analogies (smoke guided by wind; a creeper supported by a tree) to explain how moral order in the world tends to rely on power for its operation and stability.