Shloka 2
आपद्-राजनीतिः (Āpad-rājanīti) — Policy Options in Multi-Front Crisis
एक: पुत्र: स विप्राग्रय बाल एव च मेडनघ । न दृश्यते वने चारसमिंस्तमन्वेष्ट चराम्यहम्,निष्पाप विप्रवर! मेरे एक ही वह पुत्र था। वह भी बालक ही था। इस वनमें आनेपर वह कहीं दिखायी नहीं दे रहा है, उसीको खोजनेके लिये मैं चारों ओर विचर रहा हूँ
ekaḥ putraḥ sa viprāgrya bāla eva ca medhānagha | na dṛśyate vane cārasam asmin tam anveṣṭuṃ carāmy aham | niṣpāpa vipravara ||
एकः पुत्रः स मे विप्राग्र्य बाल एव च निष्पाप। न दृश्यते वनेऽस्मिंस्तमन्वेष्टुं चराम्यहम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic impulse of responsibility and care: a parent’s duty to protect and seek a dependent child, expressed with humility and respect toward a brāhmaṇa. It frames grief and urgency within ethical conduct rather than anger or blame.
Bhīṣma addresses a revered brāhmaṇa, explaining that his only son, still a child, has gone missing after entering the forest. Bhīṣma is roaming in all directions to find him.