Shloka 118
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
कृपणानां तु रुदतां कृतमश्रुप्रमार्जनम् । पश्य चाल्पेन कालेन निश्चयान्वेषणेन च
kṛpaṇānāṁ tu rudatāṁ kṛtam aśrupramārjanam | paśya cālpena kālena niścayānveṣaṇena ca ||
Bhīṣma said: “Behold: the tears of the helpless who were weeping have been wiped away. And this happened in only a short time—through firm resolve and through deliberate inquiry and effort. Such relief is the fruit of determined searching and purposeful action (aided by providential conjunction).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Suffering is not ended by lamentation alone; it is alleviated when steadfast resolve is joined with active inquiry and effort. Relief may come quickly when determination is translated into purposeful action, sometimes supported by favorable providential circumstances.
Bhīṣma points to a situation where people who were weeping in helplessness soon found their tears ‘wiped away’—i.e., their distress was relieved—because of a firm decision and a sustained search/initiative that produced results (with a fortunate conjunction of circumstances).