12.114
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
rājā rājyam anuprāpya durbalo bharatarṣabha। amitrasya ativṛddhasya kathaṃ tiṣṭhet asādhanaḥ ॥12-114-1॥
O bull among the Bharatas, how could a weak king, having attained the kingdom, remain without resources when the enemy is excessively powerful?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। saritāṃ caiva saṃvādaṃ sāgarasya ca bhārata ॥12-114-2॥
Here too, O Bhārata, an ancient story is told, namely the conversation between the rivers and the ocean.
surārinilayaḥ śaśvatsāgaraḥ saritāṃ patiḥ। papraccha saritaḥ sarvāḥ saṃśayaṃ jātamātmanaḥ ॥12-114-3॥
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.
samūlaśākhān paśyāmi nihatāṃś chāyino drumān। yuṣmābhir iha pūrṇābhir anyāṃs tatra na vetasam ॥12-114-4॥
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).
akāyaś cālpasāraś ca vetasaḥ kūlajaś ca vaḥ। avajñāya naśakyo vā kiñcid vā tena vaḥ kṛtam ॥12-114-5॥
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.
tad ahaṃ śrotum icchāmi sarvāsām eva vo matam। yathā kūlāni ca imāni bhittvā na ānīyate vaśam ॥12-114-6॥
Therefore, I wish to hear the opinion of all of you; just as, when these banks are broken, control is not regained.
tataḥ prāha nadī gaṅgā vākyam uttaram arthavat। hetumad grāhakaṃ caiva sāgaraṃ saritāṃ patim ॥12-114-7॥
Then Gaṅgā, the river, gave a meaningful and reasoned reply to the ocean, the lord of rivers.
tiṣṭhantyete yathāsthānaṃ nagā hyekaniketanāḥ। tatastyajanti tatsthānaṃ prātilomyādacetasaḥ ॥12-114-8॥
These trees, though they remain rooted in one place, eventually abandon their spot due to their contrary nature, being devoid of consciousness.
vetaso vegamāyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā namati netaraḥ। sa ca vege'bhyatikrānte sthānam āsādya tiṣṭhati ॥12-114-9॥
Seeing the bamboo's speed approaching, the other does not bow; but when the speed is surpassed, he, having reached the place, stands firm.
kālajñaḥ samayajñaś ca sadā vaśyaś ca nodrumaḥ| anulomas tathāstabdhas tena nābhyeti vetasaḥ ॥12-114-10॥
The fig tree, though wise in time and occasion and always controllable, does not approach the reed, which is pliant and unsteady.
mārutodakavegena ye namantyunnamanti ca। oṣadhyaḥ pādapā gulmā na te yānti parābhavam ॥12-114-11॥
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.
yo hi śatrorvivṛddhasya prabhorvadhavināśane। pūrvaṃ na sahate vegaṃ kṣiprameva sa naśyati ॥12-114-12॥
He who does not withstand the initial force of a powerful and growing enemy in matters of destruction and killing, quickly perishes.
sārāsāraṃ balaṃ vīryam ātmano dviṣataś ca yaḥ। jānan vicarati prājño na sa yāti parābhavam ॥12-114-13॥
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.
evameva yadā vidvān manyetātibalaṃ ripum। saṃśrayed vaitasīṃ vṛttim evaṃ prajñānalakṣaṇam ॥12-114-14॥
Thus, when a wise person perceives the enemy to be very powerful, he should adopt a flexible approach; this is the mark of wisdom.
