Shloka 34
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
कर्णिनालीकनाराचान् निर्हरन्ति शरीरत: । वाक्शल्यस्तु न निर्हर्तु शक्यो हृदिशयो हि सः
karṇinālīkanārācān nirharanti śarīrataḥ | vākśalyas tu na nirhartuṃ śakyo hṛdiśayo hi saḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata— panah berduri seperti karṇin, nālīka, dan nārāca, bila menancap di tubuh, dapat dicabut oleh tabib; tetapi anak panah berupa ucapan kasar tak dapat dicabut, sebab ia tertanam di dalam hati.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Physical injuries may be treated and removed, but the pain caused by cruel or cutting words is harder to heal because it remains lodged in the heart; therefore one should practice restraint and compassion in speech.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and conduct, he uses a battlefield image—different kinds of arrows being extracted from the body—to contrast bodily wounds with the deeper, lasting wound inflicted by speech.