Shloka 58
तस्मात् पापं न गूहेत गूहमानं विवर्धयेत् । कृत्वा तत् साधुष्वाख्येयं ते तत् प्रशमयन्त्युत
tasmāt pāpaṃ na gūheta gūhamānaṃ vivardhayet | kṛtvā tat sādhūṣv ākhyeyaṃ te tat praśamayanty uta ||
इसलिए अपने पाप को न छिपाए; छिपाया हुआ पाप बढ़ता है। यदि कभी पाप हो जाए, तो उसे साधु-पुरुषों से कह देना चाहिए; वे उसका प्रशमन कर देते हैं।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not hide wrongdoing: concealed sin tends to grow. If a fault has been committed, disclose it to virtuous people; their guidance and prescribed remedies can pacify the inner turmoil and lead toward expiation and reform.
Bhīṣma, instructing on dharma in the Anuśāsana Parva, gives ethical counsel: secrecy about one’s misdeeds worsens them, while honest confession before the righteous enables correction and spiritual settling.