Shloka 13
Adhyāya 115: On Restraint Under Verbal Provocation in the Assembly (सभायां आक्रोश-सहिष्णुता)
तादृग्जनशतस्यापि यद् ददाति जुहोति च । परोक्षेणापवादी यस्तं नाशयति तत्क्षणात्,परोक्षमें परनिन्दा करनेवाला मनुष्य सैकड़ों मनुष्योंको जो कुछ दान देता है और होम करता है, उन सब अपने कर्मोको तत्काल नष्ट कर देता है
tādṛg-jana-śatasyāpi yad dadāti juhoti ca | parokṣeṇāpavādī yas taṁ nāśayati tat-kṣaṇāt ||
ビーシュマは言った。「たとえ一人が百人分にも値するほどの布施と供犠を行ったとしても、陰で人をそしる者は、その功徳のすべてを刹那にして滅ぼしてしまう。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That ethical speech is integral to dharma: slander spoken behind someone’s back can instantly nullify the spiritual merit gained from major acts like charity (dāna) and fire-offerings (homa).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma is teaching moral discipline to the listener (Yudhiṣṭhira in the broader context), emphasizing that inner and verbal conduct must match outward religious acts.