Shloka 77
पापात्म-धर्मात्म-लक्षणम् तथा निर्वेदेन मोक्षमार्गः | Marks of the Sinful and the Righteous; Dispassion (Nirveda) as a Path to Liberation
ब्रुवतश्न॒ परस्यापि वाक्यं धर्मोपसंहितम् | चिरं पृष्टोडपि च ब्रूयाच्चिरं न परितप्यते
bruvataś ca parasya api vākyaṃ dharmopasaṃhitam | ciraṃ pṛṣṭo 'pi ca brūyāc ciraṃ na paritapyate ||
Bhīṣma said: “One should also listen to and accept the other person’s words when they are grounded in dharma. Even if questioned repeatedly, one should respond patiently; by enduring and speaking with forbearance, one does not fall into long-lasting remorse.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speak and respond in a way aligned with dharma: acknowledge righteous words even from others, and answer repeated questioning with patience. Such restraint in speech prevents later regret and inner torment.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct. Here he gives guidance on ethical conversation—how to listen to dharmic counsel and how to reply calmly even under persistent questioning.