Shloka 3
Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)
आनृशंस्येन धर्मेण लोके हास्मिन् जिजीविषु: । नाहमेतदल कर्तु नैतत् त्वय्युपपद्यते
bhīṣma uvāca |
ānṛśaṁsyena dharmeṇa loke hāsmin jijīviṣuḥ |
na aham etad alaṁ kartuṁ na etat tvayy upapadyate ||
Bhishma said: “Wishing to live in this world by taking refuge in the dharma of compassion and non-cruelty, I cannot possibly commit such unrighteous conduct. Nor does it befit you to give counsel of that kind.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Compassion (ānṛśaṁsya) is presented as a defining form of dharma: one should not adopt or recommend conduct that violates non-cruelty and moral propriety, even if it seems expedient.
Bhishma rejects a suggested course of action as adharma, stating that he intends to live by compassionate righteousness and that such advice is unfitting for the person addressing him.