Shloka 50
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
नाच्छित्त्वा परमर्माणि नाकृत्वा कर्म दारुणम् | नाहत्वा मत्स्यघातीव प्राप्रोति महतीं श्रियम्
nācchittvā paramarmāṇi nākṛtvā karma dāruṇam | nāhatvā matsyaghātīva prāpnoti mahatīṃ śriyam ||
ビーシュマは言った。急所を断たず、苛烈な業を行わず、そして殺さずして—魚を殺す漁夫のように—大いなる繁栄（śrī）には到れない。この偈は峻烈な現実を示す。すなわち、世の成功と権力はしばしば、傷つけ、強い、滅ぼす行為から生まれ、ダルマ（dharma）とシュリー（śrī：福運・王権）を求めることとの間に道徳的緊張を生じさせるのである。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a stark political-ethical observation: great worldly success (śrī) is rarely achieved without forceful measures—exploiting vulnerabilities, performing severe actions, and causing harm—creating tension with ideals of non-violence and righteousness.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma and practical governance after the war. Here he uses the fisherman analogy to illustrate that the acquisition and maintenance of power and prosperity often involve coercive or violent acts, even when such acts trouble moral sensibilities.