Shloka 27
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
कुर्यात् तृणमयं चापं शयीत मृगशायिकाम् । अन्ध: स्यादन्धवेलायां बाधिर्यमपि संश्रयेत्,“राजा बाँसका धनुष बनावे, हिरनके समान चौकन्ना होकर सोये, अंधा बने रहनेयोग्य समय हो तो अंधेका भाव किये रहे और अवसरके अनुसार बहरेका भाव भी स्वीकार कर ले
kuryāt tṛṇamayaṃ cāpaṃ śayīta mṛgaśāyikām | andhaḥ syād andhavelāyāṃ bādhiryam api saṃśrayet |
بھیشم نے کہا— وہ گھاس کا کمان بنائے، ہرن کی کھال پر سوئے اور ہرن کی طرح ہمیشہ چوکنا رہے۔ جب وقت آئے تو اندھے کی طرح بن کر رہے؛ اور موقع پڑے تو بہرے پن کی پناہ بھی لے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined simplicity and strategic restraint: a ruler (or prudent person) should live with minimal display, remain constantly alert, and know when to withhold response—sometimes ‘seeing’ and ‘hearing’ less (i.e., acting blind or deaf) to avoid danger, provocation, or the disclosure of sensitive matters, while preserving dharma.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on raja-dharma and practical governance. Here he gives a compact set of behavioral maxims—symbolic actions (a grass bow, deerskin bed) and tactical postures (acting blind/deaf when appropriate)—to illustrate vigilance, austerity, and prudent non-engagement in risky situations.