Shloka 9
Umā’s Inquiry and the Manifestation of the Third Eye (उमा–प्रश्नः तृतीयनेत्रोत्पत्तिः)
अहितानि च वाक्यानि सर्वाणि परुषाणि च । अप्रमत्ता च भर्तारें कदाचिन्नाहमब्रुवम्,“मैंने सदा सावधान रहकर अपने पतिदेवके प्रति मुँहले कभी अहितकर और कठोर वचन नहीं निकाले हैं
Bhīṣma uvāca: ahitāni ca vākyāni sarvāṇi paruṣāṇi ca | apramattā ca bhartāraṃ kadācin nāham abruvam ||
Bhishma dit : «Jamais — pas une seule fois — tout en demeurant vigilante et maîtresse de moi, je n’ai adressé à mon époux des paroles nuisibles ou des paroles dures. J’ai gardé ma parole afin de ne pas le blesser.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches restraint in speech as a key element of dharma: one should avoid words that harm or sting, especially toward those to whom one owes care and responsibility. Vigilance (apramāda) in speech is presented as a moral discipline.
In Bhishma’s discourse on dharma in the Anushasana Parva, a model of virtuous conduct is being described. Here the speaker emphasizes exemplary marital behavior by stating that she never addressed her husband with harmful or harsh words, highlighting idealized household ethics.