Shloka 25
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
अड़़् मामन्ववेक्षस्व राजन्याय बुभूषते । यथा प्रमुच्यते त्वन्यो यदर्थ न प्रमोदते
aḍ māmanvavekṣasva rājanyāya bubhūṣate | yathā pramucyate tv anyo yadartha na pramodate, vatsa yudhiṣṭhira |
Bhishma dit : « Regarde-moi, ô roi — vois ce que j’ai accompli. À l’égard des souverains kshatriya qui convoitaient la royauté sur la terre, j’ai agi de telle sorte qu’ils furent délivrés des liens du monde : je les ai abattus au combat et les ai envoyés au ciel. Bien que d’autres n’aient pas approuvé cet acte et m’aient blâmé comme cruel et violent, je n’ai pas renoncé à mon devoir. De même, toi aussi, tiens-toi fermement sur la voie de ton propre devoir. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges steadfastness in svadharma: even if one’s duty appears harsh and attracts public blame, a kshatriya must act according to ordained responsibility, with the intention of upholding order rather than seeking personal pleasure or approval.
In the Shanti Parva dialogue, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on kingship and duty. Here he points to his own life as an example: he fought and killed rival warrior-kings, interpreting that act within the kshatriya framework as enabling their heavenly destiny, and he tells Yudhishthira to remain firm in his own royal obligations despite criticism.