Shloka 47
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
तूष्णीम्भावे5पि विज्ञेयं न भेद् भवति कारणम् । निःश्वासं चोष्ठसंदंशं शिरसश्च प्रकम्पनम्
tūṣṇīṁbhāve ’pi vijñeyaṁ na bhed bhavati kāraṇam | niḥśvāsaṁ coṣṭha-sandaṁśaṁ śirasaś ca prakampanam ||
Bhishma said: “Even when a person remains silent, his inner malice can still be recognized; silence is not a sufficient ground for assuming there is no ill intent. When, without any real cause, he heaves long sighs while another’s virtues are being praised, bites or presses his lips, and shakes his head, such signs reveal a wicked disposition.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Silence alone does not prove goodness; subtle bodily reactions—especially resentment during the praise of others—can disclose envy and inner wickedness.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on righteous conduct and discernment, he explains how to detect a person’s ill will even when the person does not speak, by observing involuntary signs like sighing, lip-biting, and head-shaking.