Mahabharata 1.140.66 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 140, Shloka 66

Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)

Devanagari script

वाचा भृशं विनीत: स्याद्‌ हृदयेन तथा क्षुर: । स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषी स्यात्‌ सृष्टो रौद्राय कर्मणे

Transliteration

vācā bhṛśaṃ vinītaḥ syād hṛdayena tathā kṣuraḥ | smitapūrvābhibhāṣī syāt sṛṣṭo raudrāya karmaṇe ||

Translation

迦尼迦说道：“君王言辞当极尽谦恭，而其心须如剃刀般锋利。纵已决意行可怖之事，亦当含笑而谈。”

Word by Word

• {'vācā': 'by speech

• in words', 'bhṛśam': 'exceedingly

• greatly', 'vinītaḥ': 'well-trained

• courteous', 'syāt': 'should be', 'hṛdayena': 'in/with the heart

• inwardly', 'tathā': 'likewise

• in the same way', 'kṣuraḥ': 'razor

• figuratively, sharp and cutting', 'smita': 'smile

• gentle laughter', 'pūrva': 'preceded by

• first', 'abhibhāṣī': 'one who speaks/addressess (others)', 'smitapūrvābhibhāṣī': 'one who speaks after first smiling

• smiling in address', 'sṛṣṭaḥ': 'sent forth

• intent upon', 'raudrāya': 'for fierce/terrible (purpose)

• toward cruelty', 'karmaṇe': 'for action/deed

Speaker

कणिक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• कणिक (Kaṇika)
• राजा (the king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a hard-edged principle of statecraft attributed to Kaṇika: outward humility and pleasant speech can be used as a cover for inward sharpness and even ruthless action. It highlights a tension between ethical ideals and pragmatic political strategy.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Adi Parva, Kaṇika is giving counsel on kingship and political conduct. Here he advises that a ruler should appear gentle and smiling in conversation while remaining inwardly keen and prepared for severe measures—an example of strategic, even manipulative, counsel within the larger courtly context.