Shloka 10
सूक्ष्मभूत-भूतात्मविज्ञानम्
Knowing the subtle principle and the bhūtātman through yoga
यद् ब्राह्मणस्य कुशलं तदेव सततं वदेत् । तूष्णीमासीत निन्दायां कुर्वन् भैषज्यमात्मन:
yad brāhmaṇasya kuśalaṁ tadeva satataṁ vadet | tūṣṇīm āsīta nindāyāṁ kurvan bhaiṣajyam ātmanaḥ ||
Vyāsa dit : Qu’on ne prononce sans cesse que des paroles qui servent le bien d’un brāhmaṇa. Même lorsqu’on est blâmé, qu’on demeure silencieux—tenant cette discipline du silence pour un médicament pour soi, un remède qui guérit la maladie du devenir dans le monde.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speak consistently for the genuine welfare of the brāhmaṇa (and by extension, the righteous), and cultivate forbearance by remaining silent when criticized. Such restraint over speech and reaction is presented as a therapeutic discipline—like medicine—helping one overcome the 'disease' of worldly entanglement (bhava).
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers a concise rule of conduct: beneficial speech and silent endurance of blame. The verse functions as moral instruction rather than plot action, emphasizing inner discipline as a means toward peace and liberation.