Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
अन्यथा बहुबुद्धयाढ्यो वाक््यं वदति संसदि । अन्यथैव हाहंवादी दुर्बलं वदते वच:
anyathā bahubuddhyāḍhyo vākyaṃ vadati saṃsadi | anyathaiva hāhaṃvādī durbalaṃ vadate vacaḥ ||
Maheshvara dijo: «El hombre rico en entendimiento habla en la asamblea de un modo: con mesura, discernimiento y conforme a la ocasión. Pero el fanfarrón que se afirma a sí mismo habla de manera muy distinta, profiriendo palabras débiles e indignas de confianza. Quien está dotado de conocimiento y juicio práctico, diestro en sopesar alternativas, y plantea sus dudas a diversos oradores competentes, no cae en la aflicción.»
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Cultivate knowledge and practical discernment, consult capable people to resolve doubts, and speak appropriately in public; avoid ego-driven boasting, which produces weak and untrustworthy speech and leads to trouble.
Śrīmaheśvara is instructing about conduct and speech: he contrasts the measured words of a truly intelligent person in an assembly with the feeble talk of an ‘I-centered’ braggart, and commends seeking clarification from multiple competent speakers to avoid adversity.