Shloka 18
अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः
Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness
अनसूया क्षमा शान्ति: संतोष: प्रियवादिता । सत्यं दानमनायासो नैष मार्गों दुरात्मनाम्
anasūyā kṣamā śāntiḥ santoṣaḥ priyavāditā | satyaṃ dānam anāyāso naiṣa mārgo durātmanām ||
Bhīṣma dit : Ne pas épier les fautes d’autrui, le pardon, la paix intérieure, le contentement, la parole aimable, la vérité, le don, et l’action sans sentiment de peine—telles sont les vertus des hommes de bien. Les êtres au cœur mauvais ne suivent pas cette voie.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma lists a cluster of dharmic virtues—non-fault-finding, forgiveness, peace, contentment, pleasant speech, truth, charity, and unstrained action—and states that people of wicked character do not naturally follow such a path.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct after the war, summarizing key qualities that mark the good and distinguishing them from the durātman (morally corrupt).