Shloka 13
Adhyāya 115: On Restraint Under Verbal Provocation in the Assembly (सभायां आक्रोश-सहिष्णुता)
तादृग्जनशतस्यापि यद् ददाति जुहोति च । परोक्षेणापवादी यस्तं नाशयति तत्क्षणात्
tādṛg-jana-śatasyāpi yad dadāti juhoti ca | parokṣeṇāpavādī yas taṁ nāśayati tat-kṣaṇāt ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Quand bien même un homme ferait des dons et accomplirait des offrandes sacrificielles à une échelle digne de centaines d’hommes, celui qui se livre à la calomnie dans le dos d’autrui détruit en un instant le mérite de tous ces actes.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That ethical speech is integral to dharma: slander spoken behind someone’s back can instantly nullify the spiritual merit gained from major acts like charity (dāna) and fire-offerings (homa).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma is teaching moral discipline to the listener (Yudhiṣṭhira in the broader context), emphasizing that inner and verbal conduct must match outward religious acts.