Shloka 14
Durgātitaraṇa—Conduct for Crossing Difficulties (दुर्गातितरणम्)
ये तपश्च तपस्यन्ति कौमारब्रह्मचारिण: । विद्यावेदव्रतस्नाता दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते
ye tapaś ca tapasyanti kaumāra-brahmacāriṇaḥ | vidyā-veda-vrata-snātā durgāṇy atitaranti te ||
Bhīṣma dit : Ceux qui pratiquent véritablement l’austérité—demeurant fermes dans le brahmacarya dès l’enfance, et qui, après avoir achevé les disciplines du savoir et de l’étude védique, sont devenus snātaka des vœux sacrés—ceux-là franchissent des épreuves autrement difficiles à surmonter.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A life of disciplined austerity—especially brahmacarya maintained from youth, together with completed learning and Vedic observances—builds inner strength that enables a person to overcome even severe hardships.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is teaching Yudhishthira by praising the power of tapas, student-discipline, and fulfilled Vedic study, presenting them as means to cross otherwise difficult sufferings.