Shloka 13
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
प्रावषीवासितग्रीवो मज्जेत निशि निर्जने । मायूरेण गुणेनैव स्त्रीभिश्चालक्षितश्चरेत्
prāvaṣīvāsita-grīvo majjeta niśi nirjane | māyūreṇa guṇenaiva strībhiś cālakṣitaś caret |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Gaya ng pabong may leeg na binasa ng ulan, na nagkukubli at nananatiling tahimik sa nag-iisang oras ng gabi, gayon din ang hari sa panahon ng tag-ulan: huwag munang magmartsa laban sa kaaway, kundi manatili sa palasyo nang di-nakikita at mahigpit na binabantayan. Tularan ang likas na ugali ng pabong: kumilos nang hindi napapansin—maging ng mga babae—at panatilihin ang lihim at pagpipigil.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should practice strategic restraint: during the rainy season he should avoid campaigns, remain protected and discreet, and cultivate secrecy and self-control, like a peacock that stays hidden in solitude.
Bhīṣma is instructing on rājadharma (royal conduct). He uses the peacock’s behavior in the rains as an analogy to advise the king to stay concealed and cautious in the monsoon, moving about unnoticed within the palace.