Shloka 17
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
सर्पान् कुशाग्राणि तथोदपानं ज्ञात्वा मनुष्या: परिवर्जयन्ति | अज्ञानतस्तत्र पतन्ति केचि- ज्ज्ञाने फलं पश्य यथा विशिष्टम्
sarpān kuśāgrāṇi tathodapānaṃ jñātvā manuṣyāḥ parivarjayanti | ajñānatastatra patanti kecij jñāne phalaṃ paśya yathā viśiṣṭam ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ପଥରେ ସର୍ପ ଅଛି, କୁଶଘାସର ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ଅଗ୍ର ଅଛି, ଏବଂ କୂଆଁ ଅଛି—ଏହା ଜାଣିଲେ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ତାହାକୁ ଏଡ଼ାଇ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ଭାବେ ଯାଆନ୍ତି। କିନ୍ତୁ ଅଜ୍ଞାନରୁ କେତେକ ସେହି ବିପଦରେ ହିଁ ପଡ଼ିଯାଆନ୍ତି। ତେଣୁ ଦେଖ—ଜ୍ଞାନର ଫଳ କେତେ ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଓ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Knowledge has a practical, protective value: recognizing dangers enables avoidance, while ignorance leads to preventable suffering. Bhishma highlights jñāna as an immediately verifiable benefit in ethical life.
In Bhishma’s instruction (Shanti Parva), he uses a simple road-side analogy—snakes, sharp grass, and a well—to show Yudhisthira that discernment and right understanding guide safe conduct, whereas lack of awareness causes people to stumble into harm.