Shloka 45
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
अरक्षितारं राजानं भार्या चाप्रियवादिनीम् | ग्रामकामं च गोपालं वनकामं॑ च नापितम्,'जैसे समुद्रकी यात्रामें टूटी हुई नौकाका त्याग कर दिया जाता है, उसी प्रकार प्रत्येक मनुष्यको चाहिये कि वह उपदेश न देनेवाले आचार्य, वेदमन्त्रोंका उच्चारण न करनेवाले ऋत्विज्, रक्षा न कर सकने-वाले राजा, कटु वचन बोलनेवाली स्त्री, गाँवमें रहनेकी इच्छा रखनेवाले ग्वाले और जंगलमें रहनेकी कामना करनेवाले नाई--इन छ: व्यक्तियोंका त्याग कर दे”
arakṣitāraṁ rājānaṁ bhāryā cāpriyavādinīm | grāmakāmaṁ ca gopālaṁ vanakāmaṁ ca nāpitam ||
ରକ୍ଷା କରିପାରୁନଥିବା ରାଜାକୁ, କଟୁବଚନ କହୁଥିବା ଭାର୍ଯ୍ୟାକୁ, ଗ୍ରାମଜୀବନକୁ ମାତ୍ର ଆକାଙ୍କ୍ଷା କରୁଥିବା ଗୋପାଳକୁ, ଓ ବନବାସ ଚାହୁଁଥିବା ନାପିତକୁ—ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ଯେପରି ସମୁଦ୍ରଯାତ୍ରାରେ ଭାଙ୍ଗିଥିବା ନାଉକାକୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଦିଆଯାଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches role-based ethics: when a person entrusted with a duty (protection, supportive speech, or a livelihood suited to their station) fails or is fundamentally misaligned with that role, continued dependence on them becomes harmful; therefore, one should withdraw association, like discarding a broken boat before a dangerous journey.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and practical governance. Here he gives a pointed maxim: certain relationships or service-providers should be abandoned when they cannot fulfill their essential function, illustrating the point with the metaphor of leaving a damaged boat before an ocean crossing.