Shloka 17
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
सर्पान् कुशाग्राणि तथोदपानं ज्ञात्वा मनुष्या: परिवर्जयन्ति | अज्ञानतस्तत्र पतन्ति केचि- ज्ज्ञाने फलं पश्य यथा विशिष्टम्
sarpān kuśāgrāṇi tathodapānaṃ jñātvā manuṣyāḥ parivarjayanti | ajñānatastatra patanti kecij jñāne phalaṃ paśya yathā viśiṣṭam ||
毗湿摩说：“人们若知路上有蛇、有尖利的俱舍草（kuśa）草尖、又有井坑，便会避开而安然通过；但因无知，有些人却坠入那同样的险处。故当亲见：知识之果何其殊胜而昭然。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Knowledge has a practical, protective value: recognizing dangers enables avoidance, while ignorance leads to preventable suffering. Bhishma highlights jñāna as an immediately verifiable benefit in ethical life.
In Bhishma’s instruction (Shanti Parva), he uses a simple road-side analogy—snakes, sharp grass, and a well—to show Yudhisthira that discernment and right understanding guide safe conduct, whereas lack of awareness causes people to stumble into harm.