Shloka 21
आपद्धर्मे राज्ञः नीतिः — Bharadvāja’s Counsel on Crisis-Statecraft (Śānti Parva 138)
काष्ठा: कला मुहूर्ताश्न दिवा रात्रिस्तथा लवा: । मासा: पक्षा: षड़ ऋतव: कल्प: संवत्सरास्तथा
kāṣṭhāḥ kalā muhūrtāś ca divā rātris tathā lavāḥ | māsāḥ pakṣāḥ ṣaḍ ṛtavaḥ kalpaḥ saṃvatsarās tathā ||
毗湿摩说道：“刹那（kāṣṭhā）、分（kalā）、须臾（muhūrta）、昼与夜、微时（lava）；月、半月（朔望之期）、六季、劫（kalpa）与年——此皆名为‘时’（kāla）。大地名为‘处’（deśa）。二者之中，处可目见，而时不可见。故欲成就所愿之事，当审其利害，精确辨明并取其相宜之处与其相宜之时。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Time consists of many measurable divisions—from tiny instants up to cosmic cycles—yet it is not directly visible, unlike place. Hence, ethical and effective action requires careful discernment of the proper time and place suited to one’s intended goal.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on wise conduct by defining ‘time’ through its traditional divisions and contrasting it with ‘place,’ emphasizing practical judgment in choosing the right context for action.