Shloka 6
अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
स बुद्धिश्रुतिसम्पन्नस्तं दृष्टवातीव भीषणम् | सामैवास्मिन् प्रयुयुजे न मुमोह न विव्यथे
sa buddhiśrutisampannas taṃ dṛṣṭvātīva bhīṣaṇam | sāmaivāsmin prayuyuje na mumoh na vivyathe ||
Endowed with sound judgment and learning in the sacred teachings, he, even upon seeing that exceedingly terrifying rākṣasa, neither lost his composure nor felt shaken. Instead, he applied the policy of conciliation toward him—meeting fear not with panic, but with calm, prudent speech.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True learning and discernment show themselves under pressure: one who is grounded in buddhi and śruti does not panic before terror, but chooses an appropriate, least-harmful response—here, sāma (conciliation) rather than rash aggression.
Bhīṣma describes a learned brāhmaṇa confronting a very frightening rākṣasa. Despite the danger, the brāhmaṇa remains steady—neither confused nor shaken—and attempts to handle the situation through conciliatory speech and policy.