Shloka 5
Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)
प्रजाभि: स परित्यक्तश्नकार कुशलं महत् । अतिवेलं तपस्तेपे दह्मुमान: स मन्युना,प्रजाने भी उन्हें गददीसे उतार दिया था; अतः वे वनमें रहकर महान् पुण्य कर्म करने लगे। दुःखसे दग्ध होते हुए वे दीर्घकालतक तपस्यामें लगे रहे
prajābhiḥ sa parityaktaḥ na ca akarot kuśalaṃ mahat | ativelaṃ tapas tepe dahyamānaḥ sa manyunā ||
Bhīṣma dit : Abandonné par ses propres sujets, il ne pouvait plus accomplir pour eux aucun grand bien. Brûlant de chagrin et de colère, il se retira dans la forêt et, longtemps, pratiqua de rudes austérités, changeant sa souffrance en une pénitence durable.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a ruler loses the support of the people and can no longer serve the common good, the proper response is not reckless retaliation but inner discipline—transforming pain and anger into tapas (self-restraint and moral effort).
Bhishma describes a figure who has been rejected by his subjects; unable to carry out public welfare, he retreats to the forest and performs prolonged austerities while inwardly scorched by anger and sorrow.