Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda
अकृतेष्वेव कार्येषु मृत्युर्वें सम्प्रकर्षति । युवैव धर्मशील: स्यादनिमित्तं हि जीवितम्
akṛteṣv eva kāryeṣu mṛtyur vai samprakarṣati | yuvā eva dharmaśīlaḥ syād animittaṃ hi jīvitam ||
قال بهيشما: «ما دامت الواجبات لم تُنجَز بعد، فإن الموت حقًّا يجرّ المرء إليه. لذلك ينبغي للإنسان أن يتفانى في الدارما وهو بعدُ شابّ، إذ لا ضمان للحياة ولا سبب يمكن التنبؤ به».
भीष्म उवाच
Do not postpone dharma: since death can come while duties remain unfinished, one should cultivate righteous conduct early, recognizing the uncertainty of life.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma advises the listener that human life is unpredictable and that ethical practice should begin in youth rather than being deferred to old age.