Shloka 19
आपद्धर्मे राज्ञः नीतिः — Bharadvāja’s Counsel on Crisis-Statecraft (Śānti Parva 138)
आदी न कुरुते श्रेय: कुशलो<स्मीति यः पुमान् | स संशयमवाप्रोति यथा सम्प्रतिपत्तिमान्
ādau na kurute śreyaḥ kuśalo 'smīti yaḥ pumān | sa saṁśayam avāpnoti yathā sampratipattimān matsyaḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ପୁରୁଷ “ମୁଁ ଦକ୍ଷ” ବୋଲି ଭାବି ଆରମ୍ଭରୁ ନିଜ କଲ୍ୟାଣର ଉପାୟ କରେନାହିଁ, ସେ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟୁତ୍ପନ୍ନମତି ମାଛ ପରି ପ୍ରାଣସଂଶୟ ଓ ବିପଦରେ ପଡ଼େ। ତେଣୁ କେବଳ ଆତ୍ମବିଶ୍ୱାସ କିମ୍ବା ଶେଷ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତର ଚାତୁର୍ୟରେ ଭରସା ନକରି, ପୂର୍ବରୁ ନିଜ ହିତ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not rely on mere confidence in one’s skill; secure one’s true welfare (śreyas) early through timely, well-considered action. Last-minute cleverness cannot always avert danger once circumstances have turned adverse.
In Bhishma’s instruction in the Shanti Parva, he warns the listener through a simile: a person who postpones beneficial measures because he thinks himself capable ends up in a life-threatening predicament, like a fish that is quick-witted in the moment yet still gets trapped.