Shloka 11
Sundopasundayor Digvijayaḥ — The Conquests of Sunda and Upasunda
Nārada’s Account
यावत्कीर्तिर्मिनुष्यस्य न प्रणश्यति कौरव । तावज्जीवति गान्धारे नष्टकीर्तिस्तु नश्यति,गन्धारीनन्दन! कुरुश्रेष्ठ! मनुष्यकी कीर्ति जबतक नष्ट नहीं होती, तभीतक वह जीवित है; जिसकी कीर्ति नष्ट हो गयी, उसका तो जीवन ही नष्ट हो जाता है
yāvat kīrtir manuṣyasya na praṇaśyati kaurava | tāvaj jīvati gāndhāre naṣṭa-kīrtis tu naśyati ||
Dijo Bhishma: «Oh Kaurava, mientras la buena fama de un hombre no perezca, en tanto vive de verdad. Pero cuando su reputación queda arruinada, es como si estuviera destruido, aun respirando.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ‘life’ is measured by enduring kīrti—ethical reputation grounded in dharma. When one’s conduct destroys that reputation, one is considered ruined even if physically alive.
Bhīṣma addresses a Kaurava prince (called ‘Kaurava’ and ‘son of Gāndhārī’) with a moral warning: preserve righteous fame, because disgrace is tantamount to destruction.