Shloka 39
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
बुद्धिर्ममैषा परिखास्थितस्य मा भूद् विचारस्तव धर्मपुत्र । स्यात् संहितं सद्धिरफल्गुसारं ममेति वाक्यं परमानृशंसम्
buddhir mamaiṣā parikhāsthitasyā mā bhūd vicāras tava dharmaputra | syāt saṃhitaṃ saddhir aphalgusāraṃ mameti vākyaṃ paramānṛśaṃsam ||
« Telle est mon intelligence arrêtée, forgée après être descendu jusqu’aux profondeurs de la question. Ô Dharmaputra, ne nourris aucun soupçon contraire à son sujet. Ma parole est bien liée et solide, exempte de mesquinerie et pleine de substance ; elle est d’une compassion suprême—au point que même les hommes de bien et de discernement peuvent l’accueillir. »
भीमयेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A counsel should be judged by its coherence, substance, and compassion. Bhīma urges Yudhiṣṭhira to set aside suspicious second-guessing and to accept a well-reasoned, humane statement that aligns with the standards of the virtuous.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective setting after the war, Bhīma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaputra). He presents his firmly formed conclusion and asks Yudhiṣṭhira not to misconstrue it, emphasizing that his words are substantial and compassionate, fit for acceptance by good people.