Shloka 50
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
नाच्छित्त्वा परमर्माणि नाकृत्वा कर्म दारुणम् | नाहत्वा मत्स्यघातीव प्राप्रोति महतीं श्रियम्
nācchittvā paramarmāṇi nākṛtvā karma dāruṇam | nāhatvā matsyaghātīva prāpnoti mahatīṃ śriyam ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Hindi nakakamit ang dakilang kasaganaan kung hindi tatamaan ang mahahalagang punto, kung hindi gagawa ng mabibigat at mararahas na gawain, at kung hindi papatay—gaya ng mangingisdang pumapatay ng isda. Ipinahihiwatig ng taludtod ang matalim na realidad: ang tagumpay at kapangyarihan sa daigdig ay madalas sumisibol mula sa mga gawaing nananakit, namimilit, o sumisira, at dito lumilitaw ang tensiyong moral sa pagitan ng dharma at paghahangad sa śrī (kapalaran, paghahari).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a stark political-ethical observation: great worldly success (śrī) is rarely achieved without forceful measures—exploiting vulnerabilities, performing severe actions, and causing harm—creating tension with ideals of non-violence and righteousness.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma and practical governance after the war. Here he uses the fisherman analogy to illustrate that the acquisition and maintenance of power and prosperity often involve coercive or violent acts, even when such acts trouble moral sensibilities.