Shloka 33
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
भीतवत् संविधातव्यं यावद् भयमनागतम् । आगतं तु भयं दृष्टवा प्रहर्तव्यमभीतवत्,“जबतक अपने ऊपर भय न आया हो, तबतक डरे हुएकी भाँति उसे टालनेका प्रयत्न करना चाहिये; परंतु जब भयको सामने आया हुआ देखे तो निडर होकर शत्रुपर प्रहार करना चाहिये
bhītavat saṃvidhātavyaṃ yāvad bhayam anāgatam | āgataṃ tu bhayaṃ dṛṣṭvā prahartavyam abhītavat ||
ビーシュマは言った。「危難がまだ到来せぬうちは、恐れているかのように備えを整え、慎重にこれを避けよ。だが危難が眼前に来たと見たなら、恐れなく敵を撃て。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Practice cautious preparedness before a threat fully materializes, but once the threat is present, abandon hesitation and act with fearless decisiveness. The verse balances foresight (preventive strategy) with valor (resolute action).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on how a ruler (or any responsible agent) should respond to danger: avert it early through careful measures, and if it arrives, confront it boldly.