Shloka 4
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
स त्वायुषि परिक्षीणे जगामानीप्सितां गतिम् । गोमायुत्वं च सम्प्रातो दूषित: पूर्वकर्मणा,धीरे-धीरे उसकी आयु समाप्त हो गयी और वह ऐसी गतिको प्राप्त हुआ, जो किसी भी प्राणीको अभीष्ट नहीं है। वह अपने पूर्वकर्मसे दूषित होकर दूसरे जन्ममें गीदड़ हो गया
sa tv āyuṣi parikṣīṇe jagāmānīpsitāṃ gatim | gomāyutvaṃ ca samprāpto dūṣitaḥ pūrvakarmaṇā ||
Bhishma berkata: Ketika jatah umurnya habis, ia menuju nasib yang tak diinginkan makhluk mana pun. Tercemar oleh perbuatan-perbuatan lampau, ia terlahir kembali sebagai seekor serigala hutan (jakal).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores karmic causality: when life ends, one’s next state is shaped by prior deeds. Unethical actions can lead to an undesirable destiny, even a degraded rebirth, illustrating that moral conduct (dharma) safeguards one’s future course.
Bhīṣma describes the end of a certain person’s life: as his lifespan runs out, he departs to an unwanted fate. Because he is stained by previous actions, he is reborn as a jackal, serving as a cautionary example within Bhīṣma’s instruction.