Shloka 15
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
ब्रह्मक्षत्रं सम्प्रविशेद् बहु कृत्वा सुदुष्करम् । उच्चमानो हि लोकेन बहुकृत् तदचिन्तयन्
brahmakṣatraṁ sampraviśed bahu kṛtvā suduṣkaram | uccamāno hi lokena bahukṛt tad acintayan ||
Bhishma dit : « Après avoir accompli de nombreux actes extrêmement difficiles, qu’il entre dans la sphère des brahmanes et des kshatriya. Même si le monde le blâme et le traite de grand pécheur, qu’il ne s’y attarde pas en son esprit ; au contraire, par l’abondance des œuvres méritoires et des disciplines austères, il devient apte à être reçu parmi les brahmanes et les kshatriya. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not be paralyzed by public blame after wrongdoing; instead, through sustained, difficult, merit-producing disciplines and ethical reform, one becomes fit again for honorable social and religious standing.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and expiation, Bhishma advises the king that even if society condemns him, he should persist in rigorous virtuous practices so that he may be reaccepted among the Brahmin–Kshatriya community.