Shloka 46
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
“जो संदेह करने योग्य न हो, ऐसे व्यक्तिपर भी संदेह करे--उसकी ओरसे चौकजन्ना रहे और जिससे भयकी आशंका हो, उसकी ओरसे तो सदा सब प्रकारसे सावधान रहे ही; क्योंकि जिसकी ओरसे भयकी आशंका नहीं है, उसकी ओरसे यदि भय उत्पन्न होता है तो वह जड़मूलसहित नष्ट कर देता है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca — yo saṁdeha-karaṇīyo na bhavati, tasminn api saṁdehaṁ kuryāt; tasya pakṣāt pramādaṁ na kuryāt. yaś ca bhaya-śaṅkyaḥ, tasya pakṣāt tu sadā sarvathāiva sāvadhāno bhavet; yataḥ yasmād abhaya-śaṅkyāt api yadi bhayaṁ jāyate, tat sa mūlena saha vinaśyati. avadhānena maunena kāṣāyeṇa jaṭājinaiḥ | viśvāsayitvā dveṣyāram avalumpet yathā vṛkaḥ ||
毗湿摩说：即便面对看似不值得怀疑之人，也应保持警觉，不可疏忽；而对可能带来危险之人，更须时时处处严加戒备。因为若恐惧从原以为无害的方向生起，便能将人连根拔起般彻底毁灭。以谨慎的自制——守默誓、披赭黄袈裟、结发为髻（jaṭā）、披鹿皮——先博取敌人的信任；待其信任既成，便乘机如饥狼般扑杀敌人。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches uncompromising vigilance: do not become careless even with those who seem harmless, because unexpected danger can be ruinous. He also highlights a hard-edged nīti principle—enemies may use the appearance of ascetic virtue to gain trust and then attack—so a ruler or householder must guard against deceptive displays.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma/nīti, Bhishma warns Yudhiṣṭhira about political and personal security. He describes a tactic of feigned renunciation (silence and ascetic dress) used to win confidence, followed by a sudden assault, likened to a hungry wolf pouncing on prey.