Shloka 13
आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्
The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope
ततो नदान् नदीश्रैव पल्वलानि वनानि च । अतिक्रम्याभ्यतिक्रम्य ससारैको वनेचर:,उधर वह वनमें विचरनेवाला मृग अकेला ही अनेकों नदों, नदियों, गड्ढों और जंगलोंको बारंबार लाँचता हुआ आगे-आगे भागता जा रहा था
tato nadān nadīś caiva palvalāni vanāni ca | atikramyābhyatikramya sasāraiko vane-caraḥ ||
Lalu makhluk rimba yang mengembara sendirian itu terus melarikan diri tanpa henti, berulang-ulang menyeberangi anak sungai dan sungai besar, lopak-lopak berlumpur serta hamparan belantara—didorong oleh ketakutan dan kegentingan, tanpa seorang pun teman untuk berkongsi bahaya atau menasihati haluannya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how fear and compulsion can drive a being into restless, repetitive motion—crossing obstacle after obstacle without stability. In Shanti Parva’s ethical frame, it hints at the suffering of a mind (or life) lacking refuge, guidance, or right orientation (dharma), where agitation replaces discernment.
Bhishma describes a lone forest creature fleeing through the wilderness. It repeatedly crosses streams, rivers, marshy pools, and forests, continuing to run forward—suggesting pursuit, danger, or panic as the immediate narrative situation.