Shloka 38
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
अप्येवात्मवध॑ लोके राजंस्त्वं बहु मन्यसे । न हि प्रतिज्ञा या दत्ता तां प्रहातुमरिंदम
apy evātmavadhaṁ loke rājan tvaṁ bahu manyase | na hi pratijñā yā dattā tāṁ prahātum arindama ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王よ、この世で自らを滅ぼすことこそ、より大いなる道だと本当に思うのか。いったん立てた誓いは捨ててはならぬ、敵を屈する者よ。おまえは敵を討ち、民を正義によって治めるという務めを引き受けたのだ。悲嘆に駆られて自死を思うのは、その正しき決意から堕ちることにほかならぬ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A solemn vow (pratijñā) binds ethically; abandoning it out of grief—especially by choosing suicide—is presented as a fall from dharma, particularly for a ruler whose duty is just protection and governance.
Bhishma addresses a king who is contemplating self-destruction due to sorrow. He rebukes the idea and urges the king to uphold his pledged duty of righteous rule rather than renounce it in despair.