Shloka 45
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
सीता नाम नदी राजन् प्लवो यस्यां निमज्जति । तथोपमामिमां मन्ये वागुरां सर्वधातिनीम्
sītā nāma nadī rājan plavo yasyāṁ nimajjati | tathopamām imāṁ manye vāgurāṁ sarvadhātinīm ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Raja, ada sungai bernama Sītā yang termasyhur; konon bahkan perahu pun tenggelam di dalamnya. Demikian pula aku memandang kehidupan politik ini—sebagai jerat yang melahap segalanya. Ia dapat menenggelamkan bahkan mereka yang hendak menolong dan mengemudikannya. Bagiku, ia laksana tali jerat yang mendatangkan kebinasaan bagi semua makhluk.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that political power and statecraft can become an all-consuming trap: even capable helpers may be overwhelmed. Therefore a ruler must approach governance with vigilance, restraint, and ethical clarity, recognizing how easily policy and intrigue can lead to harm.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and uses a vivid simile: just as a perilous river can sink even a boat, so the realm of politics can drown those engaged in it. He frames governance as morally hazardous if not handled with dharma.