Shloka 5
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
प्रत्यक्ष भिन्नहृदया भेदयेयु: कृतं नरा: । श्रियाभितप्ता: कौन्तेय भेदकामास्तथारय:
pratyakṣa-bhinnahṛdayā bhedayeyuḥ kṛtaṃ narāḥ | śriyābhitaptāḥ kaunteya bhedakāmās tathārayāḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「長兄が過ちに対して公然と罰を加えれば、弟たちの心は裂かれ傷つく。彼らはその苛烈な扱いを人々の間に言い広めるであろう。彼らの繁栄を見て、嫉妬の炎に焼かれる多くの敵—クンティの子よ—は、彼らの間に不和を蒔こうと望み、策を弄するようになる。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Discipline should be administered with discretion: public, harsh punishment within a family can fracture hearts and invite outsiders—especially envious enemies—to exploit the resulting resentment and create lasting divisions.
In Bhishma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira on conduct and governance, he warns that when an elder brother punishes a younger brother openly, the younger may feel humiliated and publicize the grievance; this makes the family vulnerable to enemies who, jealous of their prosperity, seek to foment discord.