Shloka 4
Varṇasaṃkara: Causes, Classifications, and Conduct-based Recognition (वर्णसंकरः—हेतु-जाति-आचारनिर्णयः)
स्वयंवृत्तेन सा$ऊज्ञप्ता पित्रा वै प्रत्यपद्यत । तत् तस्यान्ये प्रशंसन्ति धर्मज्ञा नेतरे जना:
svayaṃvṛttena sā ājñaptā pitrā vai pratyapadyata | tat tasyānye praśaṃsanti dharmajñā na itare janāḥ ||
Atas perintah ayahnya, ia bertindak menurut jalan yang dipilihnya sendiri dan menerima akibatnya. Mereka yang memahami dharma memuji tindakannya, namun orang lain tidak.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not always judged uniformly by society: conduct that harmonizes personal resolve with rightful instruction may be praised by discerning people, even if it is criticized by others.
Bhīṣma comments on a woman’s action (Sāvitrī in context): though acting under her father’s instruction, she proceeds in a self-chosen manner, and her deed becomes a point of differing public evaluation—praised by dharma-knowers, faulted by others.