Shloka 58
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
आपन्नो रिपुसंस्थो वा ब्रह्मशापार्दितो5पि वा । आपद्धर्माननुप्रेक्ष्य तत्कार्यममविशड्कया
āpanno ripusaṁstho vā brahmaśāpārdito 'pi vā | āpaddharmān anuprekṣya tat kāryam aviśaṅkayā ||
Maheśvara dijo: «Si alguien ha caído en la calamidad—ya sea atrapado entre enemigos o incluso afligido por la maldición de un brāhmaṇa—entonces, atendiendo al āpaddharma, el deber propio de la adversidad, debe cumplirse lo necesario sin vacilar».
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
In times of severe crisis, one should evaluate conduct through the lens of āpaddharma (emergency-duty) and then act decisively, without wavering, to do what the situation requires.
Śrīmaheśvara is instructing about ethical action under extreme hardship—such as being surrounded by enemies or suffering from a brāhmaṇa’s curse—emphasizing prompt, doubt-free performance of the duty appropriate to distress.