Shloka 14
आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्
The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope
स तु कामान्मृगो राजन्नासाद्यासाद्य तं नृपम् । पुनरभ्येति जवनो जवेन महता ततः
sa tu kāmān mṛgo rājann āsādya-āsādya taṃ nṛpam | punar abhyeti javano javena mahatā tataḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Namun rusa itu, didorong oleh kehendak dan nafsunya sendiri, berulang kali mendekati raja itu lalu berundur; semula jadinya pantas, ia akan kembali lagi, bergerak dengan kelajuan yang besar.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire makes beings act in repetitive, restless patterns—approaching what attracts them and then fleeing—illustrating how kāma can disturb steadiness and judgment; the implied ethical lesson is the need for restraint and clarity, especially for rulers.
Bhīṣma describes a deer that, compelled by desire, repeatedly comes close to a king and then darts away, returning again with great speed—an image of impulsive attraction and quick retreat.