Shloka 8
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
स्वाध्यायेन वियुक्तो हि ब्रह्म॒वर्चसवर्जित: । तद्व्र॒तस्तत्र मे शंका हन्यात् तं॑ स द्विजाधम:
svādhyāyena viyukto hi brahmavarcasa-varjitaḥ | tadvratas tatra me śaṅkā hanyāt taṃ sa dvijādhamaḥ ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: «Pues estaba privado del svādhyāya (el estudio y recitación de sí mismo) y despojado del resplandor brahmánico. Su conducta parecía inclinada a tal proceder; por eso desconfío de él, no sea que ese vil brahmán mate a mi amigo.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links ethical reliability to disciplined learning: one who abandons svādhyāya and lacks brahmavarcasa (the moral-spiritual authority born of Vedic discipline) is portrayed as prone to harmful conduct, and thus becomes an object of justified caution.
Bhishma expresses apprehension about an unworthy Brahmin whose lack of Vedic study and spiritual radiance makes him seem violent; Bhishma fears that this person may harm (even kill) Bhishma’s friend.