Shloka 8
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
त्रिष्वप्रमाद्यन्नेतेषु त्रींललोकांश्व विजेष्यसि | पितृवृत्त्या त्विमं लोक॑ मातृवृत््या तथा परम्
bhīṣma uvāca |
triṣv apramādyann eteṣu trīṁl lokāṁś ca vijeṣyasi |
pitṛvṛttyā tv imaṁ lokaṁ mātṛvṛttyā tathā param ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Jika engkau tetap waspada dan tidak lalai dalam tiga hal ini, engkau akan menaklukkan tiga dunia. Dengan laku yang layak bagi seorang ayah engkau meraih dunia ini, dan dengan laku yang layak bagi seorang ibu engkau mencapai alam berikutnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that steady vigilance in three key duties (as referenced in the surrounding discourse) leads to complete success—symbolized as ‘conquering the three worlds’—and that righteous, protective father-like conduct secures well-being in this life, while compassionate, nurturing mother-like conduct supports merit for the next life.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he emphasizes careful adherence to a triad of principles and frames ethical leadership through the complementary ideals of paternal protection and maternal care, linking them to worldly and otherworldly outcomes.