Shloka 5
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
भीष्म उवाच गुहां धर्मज मा प्राक्षीरतीव भरतर्षभ । अपृष्टो नोत्सहे वक्तुं धर्ममेतं युधिष्ठिर
bhīṣma uvāca guhã dharmaja mā prākṣīr atīva bharatarṣabha | apṛṣṭo notsahe vaktuṁ dharmam etaṁ yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô Dharmarāja, ô le meilleur des Bhārata, ne me presse pas avec tant d’insistance sur cette question subtile. Si l’on ne me le demande pas, je ne me sens pas en mesure de parler de cet enseignement du dharma, ô Yudhiṣṭhira.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma signals that certain points of dharma are subtle and should be approached with proper questioning and readiness; he emphasizes restraint—speaking on profound ethical matters is appropriate when duly asked, not forced or pressed.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction scene, Yudhiṣṭhira seeks guidance on dharma from Bhīṣma. Bhīṣma responds by cautioning him not to press too hard on a ‘secret/subtle’ topic and says he does not wish to expound this doctrine unless formally asked.