Shloka 66
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
मृदुनैव मृदुं हन्ति मृदुना हन्ति दारुणम् । नासाध्यं मृदुना किंचित् तस्मात् तीक्षणतरो मृदुः
mṛdunaiva mṛduṃ hanti mṛdunā hanti dāruṇam | nāsādhyaṃ mṛdunā kiṃcit tasmāt tīkṣṇataro mṛduḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Dengan kelembutan saja orang menaklukkan yang lembut; dengan kelembutan pula yang garang dapat ditundukkan. Tiada sesuatu pun yang mustahil dicapai lewat kelembutan; maka sesungguhnya kelembutanlah senjata yang paling tajam.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that mildness—patient, tactful, non-escalatory conduct—can subdue both mild and fierce opponents; it is presented as the most effective and ‘sharp’ strategy because it achieves results without provoking further hostility.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhīṣma advises the king (Yudhiṣṭhira in context) on practical ethics of rule: the wise ruler should prefer gentle measures as a powerful means of overcoming adversaries and restoring order.