Shloka 40
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
उपमामत्र वक्ष्यामि धर्मतत्त्वप्रकाशिनीम् । यूपं छिन्दन्ति यज्ञार्थ तत्र ये परिपन्थिन:
upamām atra vakṣyāmi dharmatattvaprakāśinīm | yūpaṃ chindanti yajñārthaṃ tatra ye paripanथinaḥ ||
ଏବେ ମୁଁ ଏଠାରେ ଧର୍ମତତ୍ତ୍ୱକୁ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରୁଥିବା ଗୋଟିଏ ଉପମା କହୁଛି। ଯଜ୍ଞାର୍ଥେ ଯୂପ ତିଆରି କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଲୋକେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଗଛ କାଟନ୍ତି; ଏବଂ ସେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ଯେଉଁମାନେ ପଥରେ ବାଧା ହୋଇ ଦାଁଡ଼ାନ୍ତି, ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ କାଟି ଦିଅନ୍ତି।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma uses a ritual analogy to show that actions undertaken for a chosen end (even a sacred one) can produce unavoidable secondary harm; therefore dharma must be understood with attention to consequences, not merely intention.
Bhīṣma begins an illustrative comparison: to make a sacrificial post, people cut a tree and, while extracting it, also cut obstructing trees; the falling trees further damage other plants—an image of cascading effects caused by a single purposeful act.