Shloka 5
Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)
प्रजाभि: स परित्यक्तश्नकार कुशलं महत् । अतिवेलं तपस्तेपे दह्मुमान: स मन्युना,प्रजाने भी उन्हें गददीसे उतार दिया था; अतः वे वनमें रहकर महान् पुण्य कर्म करने लगे। दुःखसे दग्ध होते हुए वे दीर्घकालतक तपस्यामें लगे रहे
prajābhiḥ sa parityaktaḥ na ca akarot kuśalaṃ mahat | ativelaṃ tapas tepe dahyamānaḥ sa manyunā ||
Disse Bhīṣma: Abandonado por seus próprios súditos, ele já não podia realizar para eles nenhum grande bem. Ardendo de dor e ira, retirou-se para a floresta e, por longo tempo, empreendeu austeridades severas, convertendo seu sofrimento em penitência contínua.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a ruler loses the support of the people and can no longer serve the common good, the proper response is not reckless retaliation but inner discipline—transforming pain and anger into tapas (self-restraint and moral effort).
Bhishma describes a figure who has been rejected by his subjects; unable to carry out public welfare, he retreats to the forest and performs prolonged austerities while inwardly scorched by anger and sorrow.