Shloka 4
Jaitrya-nimitta: Signs of Prospective Victory and the Priority of Conciliation (जयलक्षण-निमित्त तथा सान्त्व-प्रधान नीति)
प्रायक्षित्तविधिं चात्र जपहोमांश्व तद्विद: । मड़लानि च कुर्वन्ति शमयन्त्यहितानि च
bhīṣma uvāca | prāyaścittavidhiṃ cātra japahomāṃś ca tadvidaḥ | maṅgalāni ca kurvanti śamayanty ahitāni ca ||
Dijo Bhishma: Aquí, quienes conocen los medios adecuados de expiación prescriben ritos de atonamiento—como la recitación de fórmulas sagradas y las ofrendas al fuego—y también realizan observancias auspiciosas, apaciguando así las influencias dañinas.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When harmful conditions arise, the dharmic response is informed remediation: knowledgeable people prescribe and perform prāyaścitta—disciplined acts like japa and homa—along with auspicious observances, to neutralize the negative influence and restore order.
In Bhishma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he explains how experts respond to perceived harmful forces or misfortune: they undertake expiatory and auspicious rites (japa, homa, etc.) to pacify what is causing harm.