Shloka 11
आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्
The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope
ततो निम्नं स्थलं चैव स मृगो<द्रवदाशुग: । मुहूर्तमिव राजेन्द्र समेन स पथागमत्,राजेन्द्र! शीघ्रतापूर्वक भागनेवाला वह मृग वहाँसे नीची भूमिकी ओर दौड़ा। फिर दो ही घड़ीमें वह समतल मार्गसे भागने लगा
tato nimnaṃ sthalaṃ caiva sa mṛgo 'dravad āśugaḥ | muhūrtam iva rājendra samena sa pathāgamat ||
Bhishma nói: “Rồi con nai chạy như gió ấy lao xuống vùng đất thấp. Chỉ như trong khoảnh khắc, hỡi bậc quân vương, nó đã ra đến con đường bằng phẳng và tiếp tục chạy trốn.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse supports a broader ethical point common in Bhishma’s instruction: beings respond to danger by choosing terrain that aids escape—first seeking advantage (lower ground), then moving swiftly on a clear, level route. In dharma-discourse, such observation is used to illustrate prudence, situational awareness, and adapting one’s course to circumstances.
Bhishma describes a deer fleeing rapidly: it runs toward lower ground and soon reaches a level path, along which it continues its flight. The address “O best of kings” indicates he is narrating this to the king as part of an instructive episode.