Shloka 26
Sandhi–Vigraha in Āpada: The Mouse and the Cat (सन्धिविग्रहापदि—मूषकमार्जारसंवादः)
न भयं तस्य भूतेभ्य: सर्वेभ्यश्षैव भारत । नासतो विद्यते राजन् स हारण्येषु गोपति:,भारत! उसे सम्पूर्ण भूतोंसे भी भय नहीं होता। राजन! किसी दुष्टात्मासे भी उसको डर नहीं लगता। वह तो वनका अधिपति हो जाता है
na bhayaṁ tasya bhūtebhyaḥ sarvebhyaś caiva bhārata | nāsato vidyate rājan sa hāraṇyeṣu gopatiḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Bhārata, wala siyang takot sa alinmang nilalang. O Hari, hindi siya natitinag kahit sa masasama. Tunay, nagiging panginoon siya sa mga naninirahan sa gubat—gaya ng tagapangalaga ng kawan sa ilang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True inner steadiness and dharmic integrity yield fearlessness: one who is not shaken by beings or by the wicked becomes naturally authoritative and secure, even in harsh settings like the forest.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and describes the qualities and resultant stature of a person who has overcome fear—portraying him as becoming a leader even among forest-dwellers.