12.114
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
राजा राज्यमनुप्राप्य दुर्बलो भरतर्षभ। अमित्रस्यातिवृद्धस्य कथं तिष्ठेदसाधनः ॥१२-११४-१॥
O bull among the Bharatas, how could a weak king, having attained the kingdom, remain without resources when the enemy is excessively powerful?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। सरितां चैव संवादं सागरस्य च भारत ॥१२-११४-२॥
Here too, O Bhārata, an ancient story is told, namely the conversation between the rivers and the ocean.
सुरारिनिलयः शश्वत्सागरः सरितां पतिः। पप्रच्छ सरितः सर्वाः संशयं जातमात्मनः ॥१२-११४-३॥
The ocean, eternal and the lord of rivers, who is the abode of the enemy of the gods (Viṣṇu), asked all the rivers about a doubt that had arisen within himself.
समूलशाखान्पश्यामि निहतांश्छायिनो द्रुमान्। युष्माभिरिह पूर्णाभिरन्यांस्तत्र न वेतसम् ॥१२-११४-४॥
I see the shade-giving trees with roots and branches struck down by you here with full force; among the other trees there, there are no vetasa (willow trees).
अकायश्चाल्पसारश्च वेतसः कूलजश्च वः। अवज्ञाय नशक्यो वा किञ्चिद्वा तेन वः कृतम् ॥१२-११४-५॥
The cane, which is without substance and grows on the riverbank, is yours; having been disregarded, nothing at all can be done to you by him.
तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि सर्वासामेव वो मतम्। यथा कूलानि चेमानि भित्त्वा नानीयते वशम् ॥१२-११४-६॥
Therefore, I wish to hear the opinion of all of you; just as, when these banks are broken, control is not regained.
ततः प्राह नदी गङ्गा वाक्यमुत्तरमर्थवत्। हेतुमद्ग्राहकं चैव सागरं सरितां पतिम् ॥१२-११४-७॥
Then Gaṅgā, the river, gave a meaningful and reasoned reply to the ocean, the lord of rivers.
तिष्ठन्त्येते यथास्थानं नगा ह्येकनिकेतनाः। ततस्त्यजन्ति तत्स्थानं प्रातिलोम्यादचेतसः ॥१२-११४-८॥
These trees, though they remain rooted in one place, eventually abandon their spot due to their contrary nature, being devoid of consciousness.
वेतसो वेगमायान्तं दृष्ट्वा नमति नेतरः। स च वेगेऽभ्यतिक्रान्ते स्थानमासाद्य तिष्ठति ॥१२-११४-९॥
Seeing the bamboo's speed approaching, the other does not bow; but when the speed is surpassed, he, having reached the place, stands firm.
कालज्ञः समयज्ञश्च सदा वश्यश्च नोद्रुमः। अनुलोमस्तथास्तब्धस्तेन नाभ्येति वेतसः ॥१२-११४-१०॥
The fig tree, though wise in time and occasion and always controllable, does not approach the reed, which is pliant and unsteady.
मारुतोदकवेगेन ये नमन्त्युन्नमन्ति च। ओषध्यः पादपा गुल्मा न ते यान्ति पराभवम् ॥१२-११४-११॥
Those who yield to the force of wind and water—herbs, trees, and shrubs—bend and then rise again; they do not meet with destruction.
यो हि शत्रोर्विवृद्धस्य प्रभोर्वधविनाशने। पूर्वं न सहते वेगं क्षिप्रमेव स नश्यति ॥१२-११४-१२॥
He who does not withstand the initial force of a powerful and growing enemy in matters of destruction and killing, quickly perishes.
सारासारं बलं वीर्यमात्मनो द्विषतश्च यः। जानन्विचरति प्राज्ञो न स याति पराभवम् ॥१२-११४-१३॥
A wise person who understands the essence and non-essence, strength, and energy of both himself and his enemy, and acts accordingly, never meets with defeat.
एवमेव यदा विद्वान्मन्येतातिबलं रिपुम्। संश्रयेद्वैतसीं वृत्तिमेवं प्रज्ञानलक्षणम् ॥१२-११४-१४॥
Thus, when a wise person perceives the enemy to be very powerful, he should adopt a flexible approach; this is the mark of wisdom.
