Shloka 10
यदतप्तं प्रणमते नैतत् संतापमर्हति । यत् स्वयं नमते दारु न तत् संनामयन्त्यपि,जो राष्ट्र बिना कष्ट पाये ही नतमस्तक हो जाता है, वह अधिक संतापका भागी नहीं होता। जो लकड़ी स्वयं ही झुक जाती है, उसे लोग झुकानेका प्रयत्न नहीं करते हैं
yad-ataptaṁ praṇamate na etat santāpam arhati | yat svayaṁ namate dāru na tat saṁnāmayanty api ||
Orang yang menunduk tanpa terlebih dahulu disengat derita tidaklah patut menerima kepedihan tambahan. Sebagaimana kayu yang melentur dengan sendirinya tidak lagi dipaksa untuk ditundukkan, demikian pula kerendahan hati yang sukarela biasanya menghindarkan pemaksaan lebih lanjut.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Voluntary humility prevents escalation: one who bows of their own accord, without being compelled by suffering, is less likely to face further harsh treatment—like naturally bending wood that needs no forcing.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs on dharma and practical ethics. Here he uses a simple analogy (wood that bends on its own) to advise that willing submission and modesty can avert additional pressure and pain in social and political life.