Shloka 25
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
बकवच्चिन्तयेदर्थान् सिंहवच्च पराक्रमेत् । वृकवच्चावलुम्पेत शरवच्च विनिष्पतेत्,“राजा बगुलेके समान एकाग्रचित्त होकर कर्तव्य-विषयका चिन्तन करे। सिंहके समान पराक्रम प्रकट करे। भेड़ियेकी भाँति सहसा आक्रमण करके शत्रुका धन लूट ले तथा बाणकी भाँति शत्रुओंपर टूट पड़े
bakavac cintayed arthān siṁhavac ca parākramet | vṛkavac cāvalumpeta śaravac ca viniṣpatet ||
ビーシュマは言った。王は鶴のごとき凝然たる専心で目的を思量し、獅子のごとく武勇を示し、狼のごとき急襲で敵の財を奪い、矢のごとく敵に躍りかかるべきである。かくして王道の倫理においては、熟慮と抑制は、国を護るために必要なとき、断乎たる力と結び合わねばならぬ。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches a fourfold model of royal conduct: careful, single-pointed deliberation (crane), courageous execution (lion), swift opportunistic seizure against hostile forces (wolf), and decisive, rapid action at the critical moment (arrow). The lesson is to balance thoughtful planning with timely force in protecting the kingdom.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance. Here he uses animal and weapon similes to describe how a ruler should think and act when dealing with political aims and enemies.