Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
आपन्नो रिपुसंस्थो वा ब्रह्मशापार्दितो5पि वा । आपद्धर्माननुप्रेक्ष्य तत्कार्यममविशड्कया
āpanno ripusaṁstho vā brahmaśāpārdito 'pi vā | āpaddharmān anuprekṣya tat kāryam aviśaṅkayā ||
Bila seseorang tertimpa malapetaka—entah terperangkap di tengah musuh atau bahkan tersiksa oleh kutuk seorang brāhmaṇa—maka dengan mempertimbangkan āpaddharma, hendaknya ia melakukan apa yang harus dilakukan tanpa ragu.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
In times of severe crisis, one should evaluate conduct through the lens of āpaddharma (emergency-duty) and then act decisively, without wavering, to do what the situation requires.
Śrīmaheśvara is instructing about ethical action under extreme hardship—such as being surrounded by enemies or suffering from a brāhmaṇa’s curse—emphasizing prompt, doubt-free performance of the duty appropriate to distress.