Shloka 5
Sandhi–Vigraha in Āpada: The Mouse and the Cat (सन्धिविग्रहापदि—मूषकमार्जारसंवादः)
सर्वकाननदेशकज्ञ: पारियात्रचर: सदा । धर्मज्ञ: सर्वभूतानाममोधेषुर्दूढायुध:,उसे वनके सम्पूर्ण प्रदेशोंका ज्ञान था। वह सदा पारियात्र पर्ववपर विचरनेवाला तथा समस्त प्राणियोंके धर्मोंका ज्ञाता था। उसका बाण लक्ष्य बेधनेमें अचूक था। उसके सारे अस्त्र-शस्त्र सुदृढ़ थे
sarva-kānana-deśa-kajñaḥ pāriyātra-caraḥ sadā | dharmajñaḥ sarva-bhūtānām amodheṣur dūḍhāyudhaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Dia mengetahui setiap wilayah rimba dengan terperinci. Dia sentiasa merayau di pergunungan Pāriyātra. Dia memahami dharma—tugas dan tata laku yang wajar—bagi segala makhluk bernyawa. Anak panahnya tidak pernah tersasar daripada sasaran, dan segala senjata serta kelengkapannya kukuh lagi dapat diandalkan—menandakan seorang pahlawan rimba yang berdisiplin dan sedar akan dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises an ideal type of capable person—especially a warrior or protector—whose excellence is not only martial (unfailing aim, reliable weapons) but also ethical and ecological: he knows the terrain thoroughly and understands dharma as it applies to all beings. Competence is presented as inseparable from dharma-awareness and disciplined preparedness.
Bhishma is describing a particular figure’s qualities: deep knowledge of forest regions, constant movement in the Pāriyātra area, insight into the duties/natures of living beings, and exceptional martial reliability (arrows that do not miss, well-secured weapons). The description functions as character-portraiture within Bhishma’s broader instruction in the Shanti Parva.