Shloka 1
नृशंस-लक्षणनिर्णयः | Determining the Marks of Cruel Conduct
Nṛśaṃsa
नप्मआा यम () अआजअत+- सप्तपञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमोब ध्याय: सेमलका हार स्वीकार करना तथा बलवानके साथ वैर न करनेका उपदेश भीष्म उवाच ततो निश्चित्य मनसा शाल्मलि: क्षुभितस्तदा । शाखा: स्कन्धान् प्रशाखाश्न स्वयमेव व्यशातयत्
Bhīṣma uvāca: tato niścitya manasā śālmalī kṣubhitas tadā | śākhāḥ skandhān praśākhāś ca svayam eva vyaśātayat ||
Bhishma berkata: “Lalu, setelah menetapkan tekad dalam batin, pohon śālmalī pun terguncang. Saat itu ia menjatuhkan sendiri cabang-cabangnya, dahan-dahan besarnya, dan ranting-rantingnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage supports a practical dharmic lesson: one should act with foresight and self-restraint, and avoid provoking conflict—especially with those who are stronger—choosing de-escalation over prideful confrontation.
Bhishma narrates that the śālmalī tree, after deciding internally, becomes agitated and makes its own branches and offshoots fall—an image of deliberate self-limitation to avert greater harm in a situation of danger.