Shloka 14
स्त्रीस्वभावप्रश्नः — Nārada and Pañcacūḍā on Strī-svabhāva
Anuśāsana-parva 38
सन्त्येषां सिंहसत्त्वाश्ष व्याप्रसत्त्वास्तथापरे | वराहमृगसत्त्वाश्न॒ जलसत्त्वास्तथापरे
santy eṣāṃ siṃhasattvāś ca vyāghrasattvās tathāpare | varāhamṛgasattvāś ca jalasattvās tathāpare ||
قال بهيشما: «ومن هؤلاء البراهمة من له قوةٌ وروحٌ كقوة الأسد، ومنهم من هو كالنمر. ومنهم من له بأسُ الخنزير البريّ والظبي، ومنهم من يشبه كائنات الماء.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that even within a revered social group (here, Brahmins), people differ widely in innate disposition and capability—some are bold and powerful like lions or tigers, others have different kinds of strength or adaptability. Ethical judgment and social understanding should account for this diversity of temperament rather than assuming uniformity.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues his instruction on dharma. In this verse he uses animal metaphors to classify differing temperaments among Brahmins, illustrating variation in strength, spirit, and behavioral tendencies.