Shloka 21
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
स निकृष्टां कथां प्राज्ञो यदि बुद्धया बृहस्पति: । स्वभावमेष्यते तप्तं कृष्णायसमिवोदके
sa nikṛṣṭāṁ kathāṁ prājño yadi buddhyā bṛhaspatiḥ | svabhāvam eṣyate taptaṁ kṛṣṇāyasam ivodake ||
যদি কোনো জ্ঞানী ব্যক্তি—বুদ্ধিতে বৃহস্পতির সমান হয়েও—কোনো কারণে নীচ বা তুচ্ছ কথা বলে ফেলে, তবে তাকে উচিত সঙ্গে সঙ্গে নিজের শান্ত স্বভাবেই ফিরে আসা; যেমন উত্তপ্ত লোহা জলে ডুবলেই শান্ত হয়ে যায়।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the wise may slip into harsh or low speech; the dharmic response is immediate restraint—returning to one’s शांत स्वभाव (calm disposition) rather than persisting in anger or impropriety.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct (especially fitting for a ruler or discerning person), he uses a simile: as red-hot iron is cooled and steadied by water, so should a person cool the mind and revert to composure after an unworthy utterance.