Shloka 15
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
ब्रह्मक्षत्रं सम्प्रविशेद् बहु कृत्वा सुदुष्करम् । उच्चमानो हि लोकेन बहुकृत् तदचिन्तयन्
brahmakṣatraṁ sampraviśed bahu kṛtvā suduṣkaram | uccamāno hi lokena bahukṛt tad acintayan ||
ビーシュマは言った。「きわめて困難な行を数多く成し遂げたのち、彼はバラモンとクシャトリヤの領域へ入るがよい。たとえ世が彼を責め、大罪人と呼んで非難しても、それに心を囚われてはならぬ。多くの功徳と厳しい修行を積むことによって、彼はバラモンとクシャトリヤの間に迎え入れられるにふさわしい者となる。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not be paralyzed by public blame after wrongdoing; instead, through sustained, difficult, merit-producing disciplines and ethical reform, one becomes fit again for honorable social and religious standing.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and expiation, Bhishma advises the king that even if society condemns him, he should persist in rigorous virtuous practices so that he may be reaccepted among the Brahmin–Kshatriya community.