Shloka 10
आपद्धर्मे कोशबलन्यायः | Treasury, Force, and Crisis-Ethics for the King
दृष्टवाहं तं कृश विप्रं भीत: परमदुर्मना: । पादौ तस्याभिवाद्याथ स्थित: प्राउजलिरग्रत:
dṛṣṭvāhaṃ taṃ kṛśa vipraṃ bhītaḥ paramadurmanāḥ | pādau tasyābhivādyātha sthitaḥ prāñjalir agrataḥ ||
À la vue de ce brāhmane décharné, je fus saisi de crainte et accablé d’une profonde détresse intérieure. Puis, après m’être incliné à ses pieds, je demeurai devant lui, les mains jointes en signe de vénération.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dhārmic conduct: even when shaken by fear or guilt, one should respond with humility and respect toward a brāhmaṇa/elder—bowing at the feet and standing with folded hands—signaling readiness to listen, accept correction, and act ethically.
Bhīṣma describes his immediate reaction upon seeing a frail brāhmaṇa: he feels fear and deep mental anguish, then formally pays obeisance at the brāhmaṇa’s feet and stands before him with joined palms, indicating reverence and submission to the brāhmaṇa’s words.