Shloka 32
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
वाक्सायका वदनान्निष्पतन्ति यैराहत: शोचति रात्र्यहानि । परस्य वा मर्मसु ये पतन्ति तान् पण्डितो नावसूजेत् परेषु
vāksāyakā vadanān niṣpatanti yair āhataḥ śocati rātryahāni | parasya vā marmasu ye patanti tān paṇḍito nāvasūjet pareṣu ||
Bhīṣma berkata— kata-kata adalah anak panah yang melesat dari mulut; terkena olehnya, seseorang meratap siang dan malam. Maka orang bijak tidak pernah melemparkan ucapan semacam itu kepada orang lain—ucapan yang menancap pada titik-titik paling peka dalam diri mereka.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speech can wound as deeply as weapons; therefore one should restrain oneself from uttering words that strike another’s vulnerable points and cause lasting sorrow.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and proper conduct; here he warns that verbal cruelty inflicts enduring pain, so the wise avoid such speech toward others.