Shloka 15
Satya–Anṛta Viveka (Discrimination between Truth and Falsehood) | सत्य–अनृत विवेकः
अकूजनेन चेन्मोक्षो नावकूजेत् कथंचन । अवश्यं कूजितव्ये वा शड्केरन् वाप्पकूजनात्
akūjanena cenmokṣo nāvakūjet kathaṃcana | avaśyaṃ kūjitavye vā śaṅkeran vāppakūjanāt ||
Bhishma berkata: Jika pembebasan dapat diraih hanya dengan tidak berseru, maka janganlah berseru dalam keadaan apa pun. Namun bila berseru memang tak terelakkan, janganlah gelisah atau ragu karena seruan itu.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames a practical ethical point: if mere silence were sufficient for liberation, one should always remain silent; but since expression can be inevitable in life, one should not fall into scruples or anxiety about an unavoidable utterance. The emphasis is on realistic discipline rather than rigid, fear-driven restraint.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he uses a compact, proverbial argument about silence versus unavoidable speech/crying out to guide the king toward balanced, non-anxious ethical practice.