Shloka 7
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
धूमो वायोरिव वशे बलं धर्मो<डनुवर्तते । अनीथश्वरो बले धर्मो द्रुमे वललीव संश्रिता,जैसे धूआँ वायुके अधीन होकर चलता है, उसी प्रकार धर्म भी बलका अनुसरण करता है; अतः: जैसे लता किसी वृक्षके सहारे फैलती है, उसी प्रकार निर्बल धर्मबलके ही आधारपर सदा स्थिर रहता है
bhīṣma uvāca | dhūmo vāyor iva vaśe balaṃ dharmo 'nuvartate | anīśvaraḥ bale dharmo drume vallīva saṃśritaḥ |
Bhishma berkata: Seperti asap bergerak di bawah kuasa angin, demikianlah dharma mengikuti kekuatan. Dharma, apabila tiada penguasaan dan sokongan, bergantung pada kekuatan—seperti sulur yang merebak hanya dengan bersandar pada pokok.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches a hard political-ethical realism: in society, dharma often becomes effective only when supported by strength and authority; without enforcement and protection, righteousness remains dependent and vulnerable.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira, using vivid analogies (smoke guided by wind; a creeper supported by a tree) to explain how moral order in the world tends to rely on power for its operation and stability.