Shloka 19
Śvetadvīpa-varṇana and Śāstra-pravartana (Śānti Parva 322)
शकुनानामिवाकाशे मत्स्यानामिव चोदके । पद यथा न दृश्येत तथा पुण्यकृतां गति:
śakunānām ivākāśe matsyānām iva codake | padaṃ yathā na dṛśyeta tathā puṇyakṛtāṃ gatiḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“正如飞鸟在空中不留足迹，游鱼在水中不现踪痕，同样，行善积德之人——真正的贤德智者——其行止与最终归宿，也非凡俗目力所能追知。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the inner trajectory and ultimate destiny (gati) of truly meritorious, wise people cannot be reliably inferred from outward signs. Like birds in the sky or fish in water, their movement leaves no visible trace—urging humility in judging others and emphasizing the subtlety of karmic outcomes.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct after the war. Here he uses a vivid simile to explain that the workings and end-state of the virtuous are not easily knowable, reinforcing the broader didactic tone of counsel and moral reflection.