Shloka 51
मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्
Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition
एतान्येव यथोक्तानि बुध्येथास्त्रिदशाधिप । पुरुषाणां प्रदुष्टानां स्वभावो बलवत्तर:,देवेश्वर! इस प्रकार जो मनुष्योंके लक्षण बताये गये हैं, उनको समझना चाहिये। दुष्ट पुरुषोंका स्वभाव अत्यन्त प्रबल होता है
etāny eva yathoktāni budhyethās tridāśādhipa | puruṣāṇāṁ praduṣṭānāṁ svabhāvo balavattaraḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O lord of the gods, understand these very signs exactly as they have been stated. For in men who are corrupted, their innate disposition becomes exceedingly powerful (and hard to restrain).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that the marks of moral corruption should be recognized as described, because in the wicked a hardened disposition dominates—making reform difficult unless checked by discipline, counsel, and dharmic restraint.
In Shanti Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma addresses Indra (lord of the gods), urging him to grasp the previously stated characteristics of depraved people and noting the overpowering force of their ingrained nature.