Shloka 15
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
यद् ब्राह्मणमुखात् प्राप्तं प्रतिगृह्लन्ति वै वच: । भूतात्मानो महात्मानस्ते न यान्ति पराभवम्
yad brāhmaṇamukhāt prāptaṁ pratigṛhlanti vai vacaḥ | bhūtātmāno mahātmānas te na yānti parābhavam ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—जे महात्मे सर्व प्राण्यांशी एकात्मभाव ठेवतात, ते ब्राह्मणाच्या मुखातून आलेले वचन प्रमाण मानून स्वीकारतात. असे पुरुष पराभव वा विनाशाला प्राप्त होत नाहीत; कारण ते अहंकार किंवा आवेग नव्हे, तर धर्मयुक्त मार्गदर्शन निवडतात.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should respectfully accept dharma-informed guidance from the truly learned and principled (symbolized by the brāhmaṇa’s speech). Such receptivity, joined with compassion and nobility of character, protects a person from moral and practical downfall.
Bhishma is instructing on right conduct (anuśāsana), praising the disposition of great persons who heed righteous counsel. The verse functions as a normative statement: listening to wise, dharmic instruction leads away from failure and ruin.