Shloka 58
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
आपन्नो रिपुसंस्थो वा ब्रह्मशापार्दितो5पि वा । आपद्धर्माननुप्रेक्ष्य तत्कार्यममविशड्कया,पति दरिद्र हो जाय, किसी रोगसे घिर जाय, आपत्तिमें फँस जाय, शत्रुओंके बीचमें पड़ जाय अथवा ब्राह्मणके शापसे कष्ट पा रहा हो, उस अवस्थामें वह न करनेयोग्य कार्य, अधर्म अथवा प्राणत्यागकी भी आज्ञा दे दे, तो उसे आपत्तिकालका धर्म समझकर नि:शंकभावसे तुरंत पूरा करना चाहिये
āpanno ripusaṁstho vā brahmaśāpārdito 'pi vā | āpaddharmān anuprekṣya tat kāryam aviśaṅkayā ||
Maheśvara said: “If a person has fallen into calamity—whether trapped among enemies or even afflicted by a brāhmaṇa’s curse—then, considering the duties for times of distress (āpaddharma), one should do what is required without hesitation.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
In times of severe crisis, one should evaluate conduct through the lens of āpaddharma (emergency-duty) and then act decisively, without wavering, to do what the situation requires.
Śrīmaheśvara is instructing about ethical action under extreme hardship—such as being surrounded by enemies or suffering from a brāhmaṇa’s curse—emphasizing prompt, doubt-free performance of the duty appropriate to distress.