Shloka 15
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
ब्रह्मक्षत्रं सम्प्रविशेद् बहु कृत्वा सुदुष्करम् । उच्चमानो हि लोकेन बहुकृत् तदचिन्तयन्
brahmakṣatraṁ sampraviśed bahu kṛtvā suduṣkaram | uccamāno hi lokena bahukṛt tad acintayan ||
Bhishma berkata: “Setelah melakukan banyak laku yang amat sukar, hendaknya ia memasuki lingkungan Brahmana–Ksatria. Sekalipun dunia mencelanya dan menyebutnya pendosa besar, jangan ia memikirkannya terus-menerus; sebab dengan banyak kebajikan dan disiplin yang keras, ia menjadi layak diterima di tengah Brahmana dan Ksatria.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not be paralyzed by public blame after wrongdoing; instead, through sustained, difficult, merit-producing disciplines and ethical reform, one becomes fit again for honorable social and religious standing.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and expiation, Bhishma advises the king that even if society condemns him, he should persist in rigorous virtuous practices so that he may be reaccepted among the Brahmin–Kshatriya community.