Shloka 25
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
बकवच्चिन्तयेदर्थान् सिंहवच्च पराक्रमेत् । वृकवच्चावलुम्पेत शरवच्च विनिष्पतेत्
bakavac cintayed arthān siṁhavac ca parākramet | vṛkavac cāvalumpeta śaravac ca viniṣpatet ||
毗湿摩说道：国王当如鹤之凝神静立，专注思量其所图；当如狮之雄勇，显其威烈；当如狼之突袭，骤然夺取敌财；当如箭之疾发，直扑群敌。是故，王道之法在于：谋虑与克制须与果断之力相合，当护国安民所需之时，便当雷霆而行。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches a fourfold model of royal conduct: careful, single-pointed deliberation (crane), courageous execution (lion), swift opportunistic seizure against hostile forces (wolf), and decisive, rapid action at the critical moment (arrow). The lesson is to balance thoughtful planning with timely force in protecting the kingdom.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance. Here he uses animal and weapon similes to describe how a ruler should think and act when dealing with political aims and enemies.