Shloka 9
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
दुराचारस्तु दुर्बुद्धिरिड्वितैलक्षितो मया । निष्कृपो दारुणाकारो दुष्टो दस्युरिवाधम:,“उसकी चेष्टाओंसे मैंने लक्षित किया तो वह मुझे दुर्बुद्धि एवं दुराचारी तथा दयाहीन प्रतीत होता था। वह आकारसे ही बड़ा भयानक और दुष्ट दस्युके समान अधम जान पड़ता था
durācārastu durbuddhir iḍvitailakṣito mayā | niṣkṛpo dāruṇākāro duṣṭo dasyur ivādhamaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “From his very conduct I recognized him: he was of perverse understanding and corrupt behavior, devoid of compassion. Even his appearance was harsh and terrifying—vile and wicked, like a bandit, the lowest of men.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person’s inner nature is reliably inferred from conduct and compassion: persistent immoral behavior, cruelty, and harshness signal adharma and a degraded character, warranting moral caution.
Bhīṣma is describing someone he has observed and judged based on outward behavior and demeanor, concluding that the person is cruel, wicked, and socially dangerous—comparable to a lawless bandit.