Shloka 9
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
दुराचार: क्षीणबल: परित्राणं न गच्छति । अथ तस्मादुद्विजते सर्वो लोको वृकादिव
durācāraḥ kṣīṇabalaḥ paritrāṇaṁ na gacchati | atha tasmād udvijate sarvo loko vṛkād iva |
Bhishma dit : L’homme à la conduite mauvaise, dont la force s’est usée, ne trouve aucun refuge lorsque la peur survient. En vérité, le monde entier se défie d’un tel être affaibli, comme il s’effraie d’un loup.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral character and inner strength are the basis of social trust and protection: when a person is corrupt and weakened, he cannot secure refuge in danger, and society naturally becomes wary of him.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma advises the listener by stating a general ethical principle: the immoral and enfeebled person is left without protectors, and people keep their distance from him, likened to fear of a wolf.