Shloka 8
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
तत्रैव कुरुते बुद्धि तत: पापं चिकीर्षति । सुहृद्धिवार्यमाणो5पि पण्डितैश्वापि भारत
tatraiva kurute buddhi tataḥ pāpaṃ cikīrṣati | suhṛdbhī vāryamāṇo 'pi paṇḍitaiś cāpi bhārata ||
भरतनन्दन! वह उसी में अपनी बुद्धि स्थिर कर देता है और फिर पाप करने का निश्चय करता है; सुहृदों और पण्डितों द्वारा रोके जाने पर भी वह नहीं रुकता।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When the mind becomes fixed on a harmful aim, a person may proceed toward sin even if friends and learned advisers try to stop him; therefore guarding intention and heeding good counsel are essential to dharma.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct and the roots of moral failure, describing a person who, once mentally committed to wrongdoing, disregards the restraining words of well-wishers and sages.