Shloka 3
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
भीष्म उवाच पुत्रदारै: सुखैश्वैव वियुक्तस्य धनेन वा । मग्नस्य व्यसने कृच्छे धृति: श्रेयल्करी नूप
bhīṣma uvāca putradāraiḥ sukhaiś caiva viyuktasya dhanena vā | magnasya vyasane kṛcchre dhṛtiḥ śreyaskarī nṛpa ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಓ ರಾಜನೇ! ಪುತ್ರ-ದಾರರಿಂದಾಗಲಿ, ಸುಖಸೌಖ್ಯಗಳಲ್ಲಾಗಲಿ, ಧನದಲ್ಲಾಗಲಿ ವಿಯುಕ್ತನಾಗಿ, ವಿಪತ್ತು ಮತ್ತು ಕಠಿನ ದುಃಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿರುವವನಿಗೆ ಧೈರ್ಯವೇ ಶ್ರೇಯಸ್ಕರ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a person loses family, comforts, or wealth and is overwhelmed by misfortune, dhṛti—steady inner resolve and endurance—is the most beneficial virtue. It preserves clarity and dharma when external supports collapse.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on righteous conduct and mental discipline after the war. Here he emphasizes that in severe distress, steadfastness is the key support for recovery and right action.