Shloka 12
Kāpavya-carita (कापव्यचरित) — Reforming Dasyus through Regulated Rāja-Dharma
न वाच्य: परिवादो<यं न श्रोतव्य:ः कथड्चन । कर्णावथ पिधातव्यौ प्रस्थेयं चान्यतो भवेत्
na vācyaḥ parivādo ’yaṃ na śrotavyaḥ kathaṃcana | karṇāv atha pidhātavyau prasthēyaṃ cānyato bhavet ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Une telle médisance ne doit ni être proférée ni être écoutée d’aucune manière. Si quelqu’un dit du mal d’autrui, qu’on se bouche les oreilles—ou bien qu’on se lève et qu’on s’en aille ailleurs.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should practice restraint in speech and hearing: do not engage in slander, do not entertain it by listening, and if it arises, actively avoid it by closing the ears or leaving.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, Bhīṣma advises the listener on ethical behavior, specifically how to respond when others indulge in backbiting.