Shloka 16
स्त्रीस्वभावप्रश्नः — Nārada and Pañcacūḍā on Strī-svabhāva
Anuśāsana-parva 38
सन्ति चाशीविषसमा: सन्ति मन्दास्तथापरे । विविधानीह वृत्तानि ब्राह्मणानां युधिष्ठिर,कुछ ब्राह्मण विषधर सर्पके समान भयंकर होते हैं और कुछ मन्द स्वभावके भी होते हैं। युधिष्ठिर इस जगतमें ब्राह्मणोंक स्वभाव और आचार-व्यवहार अनेक प्रकारके हैं
santi cāśīviṣasamāḥ santi mandās tathāpare | vividhānīha vṛttāni brāhmaṇānāṃ yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O Yudhiṣṭhira, unter den Brāhmaṇas gibt es manche, die furchterregend sind wie Giftschlangen, und andere, die sanft und von ruhigem Wesen sind. In dieser Welt sind die Neigungen und Lebensweisen der Brāhmaṇas von vielerlei Art.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes discernment: one should not assume uniform virtue based solely on the label “brāhmaṇa.” People within the same social-religious category can differ greatly in temperament and conduct—some harmful like venomous snakes, others gentle—so ethical judgment must be based on behavior and character.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he notes the diversity among brāhmaṇas, preparing Yudhiṣṭhira to evaluate individuals by their actions rather than by mere status.