Shloka 94
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
ततो मध्यस्थतां नीता वचनैरमृतोपमै: । जम्बुकेन स्वकार्यार्थ बान्धवास्तस्य घिछिता:
tato madhyasthatāṁ nītā vacanair amṛtopamaiḥ | jambukena svakāryārthaṁ bāndhavās tasya gṛhītāḥ ||
फिर जम्बूक ने अपने स्वार्थ के लिए अमृत-तुल्य मधुर वचनों से उस बालक के बन्धु-बान्धवों को बीच की स्थिति—संकोच और हिचक—में ला दिया। वे न आगे जा सके, न अपनी इच्छा के अनुसार ठहर सके; अन्त में उन्हें वहीं रह जाना पड़ा।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sweet-sounding speech can be used to conceal adharma: persuasive words that appear ‘nectar-like’ may still serve selfish ends by delaying rightful action and trapping others in indecision.
A jackal, acting for his own benefit, restrains the boy’s relatives through convincing, pleasant-sounding talk, pushing them into a paralyzing ‘middle position’ where they can neither proceed nor withdraw, until they are compelled to stay.