Shloka 6
मोक्षधर्मः — स्नेहपाशच्छेदः
Mokṣa-dharma: Cutting the Bonds of Attachment
अतिवादांस्तितिक्षेत नाभिमन्येत कंचन । क्रोध्यमान: प्रियं ब्रूयादाक्रुष्ट: कुशलं वदेत्
ativādāṁs titikṣeta nābhimanyeta kaṁcana | krodhyamānaḥ priyaṁ brūyād ākruṣṭaḥ kuśalaṁ vadet ||
Bhīṣma said: “One should patiently endure excessive and harsh speech, and should not take offense at anyone. Even when anger rises, one should speak what is pleasing; even when abused, one should reply with words of welfare and goodwill.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined speech and emotional restraint: tolerate harsh words without taking personal offense, and respond to anger or insult with pleasant, beneficial speech rather than retaliation.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhīṣma gives Yudhiṣṭhira practical ethical guidance—how a virtuous person (and especially a ruler) should handle provocation: by forbearance, non-reactivity, and welfare-oriented speech.