Shloka 21
भृगु–भरद्वाजसंवादः: वर्णभेदस्य कर्माधारितव्याख्या
Bhrigu–Bharadvaja Dialogue: A Karma-Based Account of Varṇa
अकार्यमिति चैवेम॑ नात्मानं संत्यजाम्यहम् । नात:ः पापीयसीं योनिं पतेयमपरामिति
akāryam iti caivemaṁ nātmānaṁ saṁtyajāmy aham | nātaḥ pāpīyasīṁ yoniṁ pateyam aparām iti ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Sachant que c’est un acte fautif, je n’abandonne pas ma propre vie. Je crains que, si je le faisais, je ne tombe de cet état dans un autre sein (renaissance) plus pécheur encore.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Self-destruction is treated as adharma: even in suffering, one should not abandon life out of despair, because such an act carries moral consequence and may lead to a worse rebirth. The verse frames restraint as an ethical duty grounded in accountability across lives.
In the Śānti discourse, Bhīṣma explains why he does not give up his life: he recognizes suicide as an improper act and fears the karmic result—falling into a more sinful state of birth—thereby reinforcing dharma-based endurance.