Shloka 20
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
प्राप्ते च प्रहरेत् काले न च संवर्तते पुन: । हन्तुकामस्य देवेन्द्र पुरुषस्य रिपून् प्रति
prāpte ca praharet kāle na ca saṃvartate punaḥ | hantukāmasya devendra puruṣasya ripūn prati ||
Bhīṣma bersabda: “Ketika saatnya telah tiba, hendaklah ia memukul; dan setelah maju, janganlah ia berbalik lagi—terutama bila seorang lelaki, laksana Indra di antara manusia, telah bertekad membinasakan musuh-musuhnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Act at the proper time with firmness: once duty requires engagement, one should not waver or retreat. The verse frames steadfast, timely action as an ethical requirement, particularly for a warrior committed to confronting enemies.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he emphasizes the warrior’s discipline: when the decisive moment comes, strike and do not turn back, invoking 'Devendra' as a model of resolute power against foes.