Shloka 32
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
गृध्र उदाच अहो बत नृशंसेन जम्बुकेनाल्पमेधसा । क्षुद्रेणोक्ता हीनसत्त्वा मानुषा: कि निवर्तथ,तब गीधने कहा--अहो! उस मन्दबुद्धि एवं क्रूर स्व भाववाले क्षुद्र गीदड़की बातोंमें आकर तुम लौटे कैसे आते हो? मनुष्यो! तुम बड़े धैर्यहीन हो
gṛdhra uvāca: aho bata nṛśaṃsena jambukena alpamedhasā | kṣudreṇoktā hīnasattvā mānuṣāḥ kiṃ nivartatha ||
Burung nasar berkata: “Aduhai! Bagaimana mungkin kalian manusia—yang miskin keteguhan—berbalik arah karena kata-kata seekor serigala hutan yang hina, kejam tabiatnya, dan sempit pengertiannya? Mengapa kalian mundur?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not abandon resolve or right action merely because a base, ill-intentioned speaker uses persuasive words. Ethical steadiness requires discernment (buddhi) and courage (sattva), not susceptibility to fear or manipulation.
In Bhīṣma’s narration, a vulture rebukes humans for turning back after being influenced by a jackal’s contemptible, cruel counsel. The vulture’s speech highlights their lack of fortitude and questions their retreat.