Shloka 8
अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
मुहूर्तमथ संचिन्त्य ब्राह्मणस्तस्य रक्षस: । आभिर्गाथाभिरव्यग्र: प्रश्न प्रतिजगाद ह
muhūrtam atha sañcintya brāhmaṇas tasya rakṣasaḥ | ābhir gāthābhir avyagraḥ praśnaṃ pratijagāda ha ||
それを聞くと婆羅門はしばし思案し、心静かにして動じることなく、次の偈によって羅刹の問いに答え始めた。脅しの前でも、急ぎではなく節度ある言葉を選んだのである。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint: before responding—especially under pressure—one should reflect briefly and speak with composure. Thoughtful, undisturbed speech is presented as a mark of dharmic conduct.
Bhīṣma narrates that a brāhmaṇa, after pausing to think, begins answering a rākṣasa’s question using metrical verses (gāthās), indicating a deliberate and calm reply rather than an impulsive reaction.