Shloka 56
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
न शुष्कवैरं कुर्वीत बाहुभ्यां न नदीं तरेत् । अनर्थकमनायुष्यं गोविषाणस्य भक्षणम् | दन्ताश्न परिमृज्यन्ते रसश्चापि न लभ्यते
na śuṣkavairaṁ kurvīta bāhubhyāṁ na nadīṁ taret | anarthakam anāyuṣyaṁ goviṣāṇasya bhakṣaṇam | dantāśnaḥ parimṛjyante rasaś cāpi na labhyate |
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ନିଷ୍ଫଳ (ଶୁଷ୍କ) ବୈର ପୋଷଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ, ଏବଂ କେବଳ ବାହୁବଳରେ ସାତରି ନଦୀ ପାର ହେବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ। ଏହି ପ୍ରୟାସ ନିରର୍ଥକ ଓ ଆୟୁକ୍ଷୟକାରୀ—ଯେପରି କୁକୁର ଗାଈର ଶିଙ୍ଗ ଚବାଏ; ଦାନ୍ତ ଘସିଯାଏ, କିନ୍ତୁ ରସ କିମ୍ବା ପୋଷଣ ମିଳେ ନାହିଁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not engage in ‘dry’ or purposeless enmity, and do not undertake self-harming efforts that cannot yield real benefit. Futile hostility and reckless exertion only wear one down, like chewing a cow’s horn—pain without nourishment.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and wise conduct after the war. Here he uses vivid analogies to discourage pointless grudges and unproductive, damaging actions.