Shloka 15
आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्
The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope
राजन! वह वेगशाली मृग अपनी इच्छासे ही राजाके निकट आ-आकर पुनः बड़े वेगसे आगे भागता था ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | rājan, sa vegavān mṛgaḥ svayameva rājñaḥ samīpam āgatya punar mahāvegāt purato ’padhāvati sma || sa tasya bāṇair bahubhiḥ samabhyastaḥ vane-caraḥ | prakrīḍann iva rājendra punar abhyeti cāntikam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Raja, rusa yang pantas itu dengan kehendaknya sendiri kerap mendekati raja, lalu dengan kelajuan besar meluru ke hadapan lagi. Walaupun telah berkali-kali terkena banyak anak panah raja, rusa pengembara rimba itu tetap kembali ke sekitar raja seolah-olah bermain—memancing baginda mengejar berulang-ulang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a target seems within reach, repeated provocation can be a trap: a ruler should not let excitement, pride, or fascination override discernment. The deer’s ‘playful’ returns illustrate how the mind can be drawn into unwise pursuit despite clear signs of harm or futility.
A swift deer, though pierced by many arrows, repeatedly comes close to the king and then bolts away again, as if teasing him. The scene functions as an illustrative example within Bhishma’s instruction, highlighting the dynamics of lure, pursuit, and the need for controlled judgment.