Shloka 21
दैव–पुरुषकार-प्रश्नः
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Inquiry: Fate and Human Effort
न तथा मानुषे लोके भयमस्ति शुभाशुभे । तथा त्रिदशलोके हि भयमल्पेन जायते,इस मनुष्यलोकमें शुभाशुभ कर्मोंसे उतना भय नहीं प्राप्त होता, जितना कि देवलोकमें थोड़े ही पापसे भय होता है
na tathā mānuṣe loke bhayam asti śubhāśubhe | tathā tridaśa-loke hi bhayam alpena jāyate ||
ビーシュマは言った。「人の世では、吉なる行いも凶なる行いも、それほど同じほどの恐れを生むわけではない。だが神々の世界では、わずかな罪でさえ、たちまち恐れが生じる。これは、高き界ほど道徳の清浄を厳しく求め、微細な過ちにも即座の報いが伴うことを示す。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral accountability is sharper in higher realms: in heaven (tridaśa-loka), even minor wrongdoing can quickly produce fear and instability, implying that subtle lapses have immediate consequences where merit is refined and standards are stricter.
Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma and the differing consequences of actions across realms, contrasting the human world—where results may be delayed or mixed—with the divine world, where small sins can swiftly lead to fear and loss of security.