Shloka 15
Abhimanyu’s Assault on Bhīṣma’s Screen; Banner-Felling and Reinforcements (सौभद्र-भीष्म-समरः)
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् ।४ स्वाध्याया भ्यसनं चैव वाड्मयं तप उच्यते
arjuna uvāca | anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat | svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ||
Arjuna said: Speech that does not agitate others—truthful, pleasing, and beneficial—and the steady practice of self-study: this is declared to be austerity of speech.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Verbal austerity consists in disciplined speech that is non-harsh and non-agitating, while remaining truthful, pleasing, and genuinely beneficial, together with the regular practice of svādhyāya (self-study/recitation of sacred learning).
In the Bhīṣma Parva’s ethical instruction, Arjuna articulates a definition of vāṅmaya-tapas (austerity of speech), shifting focus from battlefield force to inner restraint and responsible communication.