Shloka 50
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
नाच्छित्त्वा परमर्माणि नाकृत्वा कर्म दारुणम् | नाहत्वा मत्स्यघातीव प्राप्रोति महतीं श्रियम्
nācchittvā paramarmāṇi nākṛtvā karma dāruṇam | nāhatvā matsyaghātīva prāpnoti mahatīṃ śriyam ||
毗湿摩说：不击要害，不行严酷之事，不施杀戮——如渔者杀鱼——便不能获得巨大的繁荣与富贵（śrī）。此偈揭示冷峻的现实：世间的成功与权势往往出自伤害、胁迫或毁灭之举，从而在达摩（dharma）与追逐室利（śrī，福运与王权）之间引发道德张力。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a stark political-ethical observation: great worldly success (śrī) is rarely achieved without forceful measures—exploiting vulnerabilities, performing severe actions, and causing harm—creating tension with ideals of non-violence and righteousness.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma and practical governance after the war. Here he uses the fisherman analogy to illustrate that the acquisition and maintenance of power and prosperity often involve coercive or violent acts, even when such acts trouble moral sensibilities.