तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
अपराधिषु सस्नेहा मृदवो मृदुवत्सला: । आराधनसुखाश्षापि पुरुषा: स्वर्गगामिन:
aparādhiṣu sasnehā mṛdavo mṛduvatsalāḥ | ārādhanasukhaś cāpi puruṣāḥ svargagāminaḥ ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Männer, die selbst gegenüber Schuldigen Zuneigung bewahren, von sanfter Natur sind, die Sanftmütige lieben und ihr Glück darin finden, andere zu ehren und ihnen zu dienen—solche Menschen gelangen in den Himmel.
भीष्म उवाच
Compassion even toward wrongdoers, a gentle temperament, affection for the gentle, and joy in serving others are presented as dharmic qualities that generate spiritual merit and lead to a higher posthumous state (svarga).
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on righteous conduct, listing virtues and their fruits; here he states that tenderness, mercy, and delight in respectful service are marks of the virtuous who attain heaven.