Shloka 35
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
हीनांगानतिरिक्तांगान् विद्याहीनान् विगर्हितान् | रूपद्रविणहीनांश्व सत्त्वहीनांश्व नाक्षिपेत्
hīnāṅgān atiriktāṅgān vidyāhīnān vigarhitān | rūpa-draviṇa-hīnānś ca sattva-hīnānś ca nākṣipet ||
Bhīṣma dit : Qu’on ne jette pas le blâme sur ceux qui sont infirmes ou difformes, sur ceux qui ont des membres en trop, sur ceux qui manquent d’instruction, sur ceux que la société réprouve, sur ceux qui manquent de beauté ou de richesse, ni sur ceux qui manquent de force et de courage. Une telle recherche de défauts est indigne et contraire au dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not mock or reproach people for deficiencies of body, learning, social standing, beauty, wealth, or strength; ethical speech requires restraint and compassion, aligning one’s conduct with dharma.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct; here he lays down a rule of right speech—avoiding contemptuous criticism of those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.