Shloka 14
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
इत्यस्मीति वदेदेवं परेषां कीर्तयेद् गुणान् जपेदुदकशील: स्यात् पेशलो नातिजल्पक:
ity asmīti vaded evaṁ pareṣāṁ kīrtayed guṇān | japed udakaśīlaḥ syāt peśalo nātijalpakaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : « Ainsi doit-il parler, en se présentant avec humilité : “Je suis un tel”, et il doit célébrer les vertus d’autrui. Qu’il soit attaché à la pureté rituelle et au bain quotidien, qu’il récite la formule sacrée qu’il a choisie, qu’il soit courtois et bien élevé, et qu’il ne soit pas trop bavard. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cultivate visible and inner reform through humility (simple self-introduction without pride), praising others’ virtues, maintaining purity and regular bathing, practicing mantra-recitation, adopting courteous conduct, and restraining speech—disciplines that support repentance and a return to dharma.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on righteous conduct and remedial practices. Here he lists behavioral disciplines—how one should speak, relate to others, and maintain purity—as part of a broader program of atonement and ethical rehabilitation.