Shloka 16
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
“शत्रुको उसका मित्र बनकर मीठे वचनोंसे ही सान्त्वना देता रहे; परंतु जैसे सर्पयुक्त गृहसे मनुष्य डरता है, उसी प्रकार उस शत्रुसे भी सदा उद्विग्न रहे ।।
yasya buddhiḥ paribhavet tam atītena sāntvayet | anāgatena duṣprajñaṃ pratyutpannena paṇḍitam ||
भीष्म उवाच—यस्य बुद्धिः शोकाभिभूता विपदं प्राप्य परिभवेत्, स भूतपूर्वकथाभिः—पूर्वेषां चरितैः दृष्टान्तैश्च—सान्त्वयितव्यः। अनागतेन लाभाशया दुष्प्रज्ञः स्थिरीकर्तव्यः। प्रत्युत्पन्नेन तु पण्डितः शीघ्रमेव प्रशमनीयः—यथाकालं धनधान्याद्युपकारैः।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Consolation should be tailored to the person’s mental condition: the grief-stricken are strengthened by past exemplars, the foolish by hope of future benefit, and the wise by immediate, practical relief.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on governance and ethical conduct; here he explains how a ruler or counselor should calm different kinds of distressed people using past narratives, future assurances, or prompt material support.