Shloka 14
Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
सर्वाभिशड्की मूढश्ष बाल: कटुकवागपि । बोद्धव्यस्तादृशस्तात नर श्वानं हि त॑ं विदु:
sarvābhiśaṅkī mūḍhaś ca bālaḥ kaṭukavāg api | boddhavyas tādṛśas tāta naraḥ śvānaṃ hi taṃ viduḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «L’homme qui soupçonne tout le monde, s’égare dans l’illusion, se conduit comme un enfant et parle avec dureté—mon cher, reconnais-le pour ce qu’il est. Les sages le tiennent pour guère meilleur qu’un chien.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma condemns habitual suspicion, delusion, childish immaturity, and harsh speech as marks of a morally degraded person. The verse urges discernment: such traits make one unfit for refined society and ethical discourse.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he characterizes a certain type of person—defined by distrust and abusive speech—and states how the wise evaluate such a person.