Shloka 15
अभयं यस्य भूतेभ्य: सर्वेषामभयं यत: । नमस्य: सर्वभूतानां दान्तो भवति बुद्धिमान्,जो समस्त प्राणियोंसे निर्भय है तथा जिससे सम्पूर्ण प्राणी निर्भय हो गये हैं, वह दमनशील एवं बुद्धिमान् पुरुष सब जीवोंके लिये वन्दनीय होता है
abhayaṁ yasya bhūtebhyaḥ sarveṣām abhayaṁ yataḥ | namasyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ dānto bhavati buddhimān ||
Bhishma said: The wise and self-restrained person who is himself fearless toward all beings—and from whom all beings in turn become free from fear—becomes worthy of reverence for every living creature. Such a one embodies dharma not by force, but by making the world around him feel safe.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True wisdom and discipline are shown by creating fearlessness: one should be harmless and steady so that all beings feel safe in one’s presence; such a person naturally becomes worthy of universal respect.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by describing the marks of a virtuous person—here, the one whose self-restraint and non-threatening conduct remove fear from others.