Shloka 946
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
अनिवृत्तस्य कालस्य क्षयं प्राप्तो न मुच्यते । “कालपर किसीका भी वश नहीं चलता। वह सदा सावधान रहकर सम्पूर्ण भूतोंको पकाता रहता है। वह कभी लौटनेवाला नहीं है। ऐसे कालके अधीन हुआ प्राणी उससे छुटकारा नहीं पाता है
anivṛttasya kālasya kṣayaṁ prāpto na mucyate |
ビーシュマは言った。「決して引き返さぬ時の手の届くところに入った者は、その貪り尽くす力から解き放たれない。時は誰の支配にも属さず、常に目覚めて万有を熟させ、やがて摩耗させる。戻らぬがゆえに、その下に置かれた命は逃れの道を得ない。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Time (kāla) is irreversible and unconquerable; once a being falls under its consuming course, there is no escape. Therefore one should not postpone dharmic action, self-discipline, and right understanding, since delay is defeated by the certainty of change and decay.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on wisdom and conduct. Here he emphasizes the inescapability of Time as a moral reminder: human plans and power are limited, so one must live with vigilance and align life with dharma before Time carries everything toward decline.