Shloka 42
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
यथा दारुमयो हस्ती यथा चर्ममयो मृगः । यथा हाानर्थ: षण्ढो वा पार्थ क्षेत्र यथोषरम्
yathā dārumayo hastī yathā carmamayo mṛgaḥ | yathā hānārthaḥ ṣaṇḍho vā pārtha kṣetra yathoṣaram ||
यथा दारुमयो हस्ती यथा चर्ममयो मृगः। यथा हानर्थः षण्ढो वा पार्थ क्षेत्रं यथोषरम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches discernment: judge things by their real capacity to produce the intended result. Mere appearance or name without efficacy is like a wooden elephant or a barren field—externally similar, but incapable of yielding the proper fruit.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the Pāṇḍavas on dharma and practical wisdom. Here he addresses Pārtha (Arjuna) using vivid analogies to emphasize that what lacks true power or productivity should be recognized as futile and not relied upon.