Shloka 19
Śvetadvīpa-varṇana and Śāstra-pravartana (Śānti Parva 322)
शकुनानामिवाकाशे मत्स्यानामिव चोदके । पद यथा न दृश्येत तथा पुण्यकृतां गति:
śakunānām ivākāśe matsyānām iva codake | padaṃ yathā na dṛśyeta tathā puṇyakṛtāṃ 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 ang landas at hantungan ng mga gumagawa ng kabutihan—ng tunay na marangal at marurunong—ay hindi matutunton ng karaniwang pagtanaw.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the inner trajectory and ultimate destiny (gati) of truly meritorious, wise people cannot be reliably inferred from outward signs. Like birds in the sky or fish in water, their movement leaves no visible trace—urging humility in judging others and emphasizing the subtlety of karmic outcomes.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct after the war. Here he uses a vivid simile to explain that the workings and end-state of the virtuous are not easily knowable, reinforcing the broader didactic tone of counsel and moral reflection.