Shloka 77
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
त्रीन् कृशान् नावजानीयाद् दीर्घमायुर्जिजीविषु: । ब्राह्मण क्षत्रियं सर्प सर्वे ह्याशीविषास्त्रय:
trīn kṛśān nāvajānīyād dīrgham āyur jijīviṣuḥ | brāhmaṇa kṣatriyaṃ sarpa sarve hy āśīviṣās trayaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Celui qui veut vivre longtemps ne doit jamais mépriser trois êtres qui paraissent « faibles » : un brāhmaṇa, un kṣatriya et un serpent. Car tous trois, même s’ils semblent frêles, sont en vérité comme des serpents venimeux, capables d’une riposte prompte et redoutable lorsqu’on les provoque.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not underestimate or insult those who may appear weak; some persons or beings possess latent power to harm when provoked. Respect and caution are presented as practical dharma for one who values longevity and well-being.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct (Anuśāsana Parva), he offers a proverbial warning: a brāhmaṇa, a kṣatriya, and a serpent should not be slighted even if they seem powerless, because each can become dangerously retaliatory—like a venomous snake.