Shloka 10
आपद्धर्मे कोशबलन्यायः | Treasury, Force, and Crisis-Ethics for the King
दृष्टवाहं तं कृश विप्रं भीत: परमदुर्मना: । पादौ तस्याभिवाद्याथ स्थित: प्राउजलिरग्रत:
dṛṣṭvāhaṃ taṃ kṛśa vipraṃ bhītaḥ paramadurmanāḥ | pādau tasyābhivādyātha sthitaḥ prāñjalir agrataḥ ||
उस दुबले-पतले ब्राह्मण को देखकर मैं भयभीत हो गया और मन-ही-मन अत्यन्त व्याकुल हो उठा। फिर उनके चरणों में प्रणाम करके, दोनों हाथ जोड़कर, उनके सामने खड़ा हो गया।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dhārmic conduct: even when shaken by fear or guilt, one should respond with humility and respect toward a brāhmaṇa/elder—bowing at the feet and standing with folded hands—signaling readiness to listen, accept correction, and act ethically.
Bhīṣma describes his immediate reaction upon seeing a frail brāhmaṇa: he feels fear and deep mental anguish, then formally pays obeisance at the brāhmaṇa’s feet and stands before him with joined palms, indicating reverence and submission to the brāhmaṇa’s words.