Shloka 21
आपद्धर्मे राज्ञः नीतिः — Bharadvāja’s Counsel on Crisis-Statecraft (Śānti Parva 138)
काष्ठा: कला मुहूर्ताश्न दिवा रात्रिस्तथा लवा: । मासा: पक्षा: षड़ ऋतव: कल्प: संवत्सरास्तथा
kāṣṭhāḥ kalā muhūrtāś ca divā rātris tathā lavāḥ | māsāḥ pakṣāḥ ṣaḍ ṛtavaḥ kalpaḥ saṃvatsarās tathā ||
Bhishma berkata: Kāṣṭhā, kalā, muhūrta, siang dan malam, serta lava; bulan, paruh bulan, enam musim, tahun, dan kalpa—semuanya disebut ‘waktu’ (kāla). Adapun bumi disebut ‘tempat’ (deśa). Tempat dapat dilihat, tetapi waktu tidak tampak. Karena itu, demi keberhasilan tujuan yang diinginkan, hendaknya seseorang menimbang dengan tepat dan memilih tempat serta waktu yang benar-benar berguna.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Time consists of many measurable divisions—from tiny instants up to cosmic cycles—yet it is not directly visible, unlike place. Hence, ethical and effective action requires careful discernment of the proper time and place suited to one’s intended goal.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on wise conduct by defining ‘time’ through its traditional divisions and contrasting it with ‘place,’ emphasizing practical judgment in choosing the right context for action.