Shloka 38
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
अप्येवात्मवध॑ लोके राजंस्त्वं बहु मन्यसे । न हि प्रतिज्ञा या दत्ता तां प्रहातुमरिंदम
apy evātmavadhaṁ loke rājan tvaṁ bahu manyase | na hi pratijñā yā dattā tāṁ prahātum arindama ||
Bhishma sprach: „O König, hältst du wirklich die Selbstvernichtung in dieser Welt für den höheren Weg? Ein einmal gegebenes Gelübde darf nicht aufgegeben werden, o Bezwinger der Feinde. Du hast die Pflicht auf dich genommen, deine Gegner zu besiegen und deine Untertanen gerecht zu regieren; wenn du den Kummer dich zum Selbstmord treiben lässt, fällst du von diesem rechtschaffenen Entschluss ab.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A solemn vow (pratijñā) binds ethically; abandoning it out of grief—especially by choosing suicide—is presented as a fall from dharma, particularly for a ruler whose duty is just protection and governance.
Bhishma addresses a king who is contemplating self-destruction due to sorrow. He rebukes the idea and urges the king to uphold his pledged duty of righteous rule rather than renounce it in despair.