Shloka 14
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
इत्यस्मीति वदेदेवं परेषां कीर्तयेद् गुणान् जपेदुदकशील: स्यात् पेशलो नातिजल्पक:
ity asmīti vaded evaṁ pareṣāṁ kīrtayed guṇān | japed udakaśīlaḥ syāt peśalo nātijalpakaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Demikian hendaknya ia berbicara dengan rendah hati—‘Aku si anu’—dan memuji kebajikan orang lain. Ia hendaknya tekun menjaga kesucian, mandi setiap hari, melafalkan mantra pilihannya, bersikap sopan dan halus budi, serta tidak banyak bicara.” Disiplin ini diajarkan sebagai tanda pembaruan diri dan penebusan, agar pelaku kesalahan kembali teguh di jalan dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cultivate visible and inner reform through humility (simple self-introduction without pride), praising others’ virtues, maintaining purity and regular bathing, practicing mantra-recitation, adopting courteous conduct, and restraining speech—disciplines that support repentance and a return to dharma.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on righteous conduct and remedial practices. Here he lists behavioral disciplines—how one should speak, relate to others, and maintain purity—as part of a broader program of atonement and ethical rehabilitation.