Shloka 35
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
हीनांगानतिरिक्तांगान् विद्याहीनान् विगर्हितान् | रूपद्रविणहीनांश्व सत्त्वहीनांश्व नाक्षिपेत्
hīnāṅgān atiriktāṅgān vidyāhīnān vigarhitān | rūpa-draviṇa-hīnānś ca sattva-hīnānś ca nākṣipet ||
Bhīṣma berkata— jangan mencela orang yang cacat atau kurang anggota tubuh, yang memiliki anggota tubuh berlebih, yang kurang berilmu, yang dicela masyarakat, yang tidak memiliki rupa atau harta, maupun yang kurang kekuatan dan keberanian. Mencari-cari cela mereka bertentangan dengan dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not mock or reproach people for deficiencies of body, learning, social standing, beauty, wealth, or strength; ethical speech requires restraint and compassion, aligning one’s conduct with dharma.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct; here he lays down a rule of right speech—avoiding contemptuous criticism of those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.