Shloka 50
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
परस्त्रियं नाभिलषेद् वाचाथ मनसापि वा । अनृतं च न भाषेत मातापित्रो: कृतेपि वा
parastriyaṁ nābhilaṣed vā cātha manasāpi vā | anṛtaṁ ca na bhāṣeta mātāpitroḥ kṛte 'pi vā ||
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—പരസ്ത്രീയെ ആഗ്രഹിക്കരുത്—വാക്കുകൊണ്ടും മനസ്സുകൊണ്ടും പോലും. അസത്യം പറയരുത്—മാതാപിതാക്കൾക്കുവേണ്ടിയെങ്കിലും പോലും.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Two restraints are emphasized: (1) do not covet another’s wife, not even mentally or through suggestive speech; (2) do not speak falsehood, even when motivated by filial loyalty. Dharma requires purity of intention and unwavering commitment to truth.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. This verse is part of Bhīṣma’s ethical counsel, laying down personal conduct rules that govern desire and speech.