Shloka 19
Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Ātma-saṃyama (Marks of Social Conduct and Self-Restraint) | वर्णलक्षणम् एवं आत्मसंयमः
शकुनानामिवाकाशे मत्स्यानामिव चोदके । पदं यथा न दृश्येत तथा ज्ञानविदां गति:,जैसे आकाशमें पक्षियोंके और जलमें मछलियोंके चरण-चिह्न दिखायी नहीं देते, उसी प्रकार ज्ञानियोंकी गतिका पता नहीं चलता
śakunānām ivākāśe matsyānām iva codake | padaṃ yathā na dṛśyeta tathā jñānavidāṃ gatiḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Kung paanong hindi nakikita sa langit ang bakas ng paa ng mga ibon, at hindi rin nakikita sa tubig ang landas ng mga isda, gayon din hindi matutunton ang gawi at paglalakbay ng mga tunay na marurunong—yaong mga nakatatag sa karunungan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The truly wise cannot be judged by external traces—status, display, or predictable patterns. Like birds in the sky and fish in water, their way is subtle and untrackable because it is guided by inner knowledge rather than outward show.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right living, Bhīṣma continues teaching Yudhiṣṭhira, using a vivid natural analogy to describe the elusive, non-ostentatious conduct and movement of genuine knowers of truth.