Shloka 6
आपद्धर्मे राज्ञः नीतिः — Bharadvāja’s Counsel on Crisis-Statecraft (Śānti Parva 138)
प्रक्षीयमाण तं दृष्टवा जलस्थायं भयागमे । अब्रवीद् दीर्घदर्शी तु तावुभौ सुहदौ तदा,जलाशयका पानी घटता देख भय आनेकी सम्भावना समझकर दूरतककी बातें सोचनेवाले उस मत्स्यने अपने उन दोनों सुहृदोंसे कहा--
prakṣīyamāṇaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭvā jalasthāyaṁ bhayāgame | abravīd dīrghadarśī tu tāv ubhau suhṛdau tadā ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Thấy nước trong hồ cứ vơi dần, và đoán biết hiểm họa đang đến gần, con cá lo xa liền lên tiếng với hai người bạn cùng ở đó—kịp thời cảnh báo họ, như kẻ biết nghĩ trước khi tai ương kề cận.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dīrghadarśitā—foresight and timely counsel. When signs of decline appear (the water diminishing), a wise person anticipates danger and advises friends early, rather than waiting for crisis.
As the pond’s water begins to shrink, a far-sighted fish realizes that danger is imminent (such as drying up or predators). He then speaks to his two companions in the pond, preparing to advise them on what to do next.