Shloka 21
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
देवेन्द्र! जो शत्रुको मारना चाहता है, उस पुरुषके लिये बारंबार मौका हाथमें नहीं लगता; अत: जब कभी अवसर मिल जाय, उस समय उसपर अवश्य प्रहार करे ।।
devendra! yo śatruko mārayituṁ kāmayate, tasya puruṣasya bāraṁbāraṁ mauko hastam na lagati; ataḥ yadā kadācit avasaro labhyeta, tadā tasmin avaśyaṁ praharet. yo hi kālo vyatikrāmet puruṣaṁ kālakāṅkṣiṇam, durlabhaḥ sa punaḥ tena kālaḥ karmacikīrṣuṇā.
毗湿摩说道：“噢，因陀罗！欲诛敌者，良机并不会屡屡落入其手；故一有破绽显现，便当于当下必然出手。因为若合宜之时来到却从那只顾等待‘好时机’的人身旁流逝，那么对真正想成就所愿之事的人而言，此时机便再难重得。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not rely on repeated chances: in matters of conflict and decisive action, a favorable opening is rare. If one delays out of excessive ‘waiting for the right time,’ the very moment needed for success may pass and become difficult to regain.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and policy, Bhishma addresses Devendra (Indra) and articulates a principle of practical ethics and strategy: when confronting an enemy, one should act decisively at the moment of advantage rather than postponing.