Shloka 33
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
भीतवत् संविधातव्यं यावद् भयमनागतम् । आगतं तु भयं दृष्टवा प्रहर्तव्यमभीतवत्
bhītavat saṃvidhātavyaṃ yāvad bhayam anāgatam | āgataṃ tu bhayaṃ dṛṣṭvā prahartavyam abhītavat ||
Disse Bhishma: “Enquanto o perigo ainda não chegou, deve-se preparar como se se estivesse com medo, tomando medidas prudentes para afastá-lo. Mas, quando se vê que o perigo veio, deve-se golpear o inimigo sem temor.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Practice cautious preparedness before a threat fully materializes, but once the threat is present, abandon hesitation and act with fearless decisiveness. The verse balances foresight (preventive strategy) with valor (resolute action).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on how a ruler (or any responsible agent) should respond to danger: avert it early through careful measures, and if it arrives, confront it boldly.