Shloka 67
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
काले मृदुर्यो भवति काले भवति दारुण: । प्रसाधयति कृत्यानि शत्रुं चाप्पधितिष्ठति
kāle mṛdur yo bhavati kāle bhavati dāruṇaḥ | prasādhayati kṛtyāni śatruṃ cāpy adhitīṣṭhati ||
毗湿摩说道：“当柔当柔，当严则严；能随时而变者，诸事皆成，甚至可制敌而得其势。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is situational discernment (kāla-jñāna): a leader or practitioner of dharma should be gentle when gentleness serves the good, and stern when firmness is required. Such balanced conduct enables success in duties and strategic superiority over adversaries.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and rājanīti (the duties and conduct of a ruler). This verse is part of counsel on effective governance and conduct—how appropriate softness and appropriate severity help accomplish aims and restrain enemies.