Shloka 15
Satya–Anṛta Viveka (Discrimination between Truth and Falsehood) | सत्य–अनृत विवेकः
अकूजनेन चेन्मोक्षो नावकूजेत् कथंचन । अवश्यं कूजितव्ये वा शड्केरन् वाप्पकूजनात्
akūjanena cenmokṣo nāvakūjet kathaṃcana | avaśyaṃ kūjitavye vā śaṅkeran vāppakūjanāt ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—जर न पुकारल्यानेच मोक्ष मिळत असेल, तर कोणत्याही प्रसंगी पुकारू नये. पण पुकारणे जर अपरिहार्य असेल, तर त्या पुकाराबद्दल मनात शंका किंवा भय धरू नये.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames a practical ethical point: if mere silence were sufficient for liberation, one should always remain silent; but since expression can be inevitable in life, one should not fall into scruples or anxiety about an unavoidable utterance. The emphasis is on realistic discipline rather than rigid, fear-driven restraint.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he uses a compact, proverbial argument about silence versus unavoidable speech/crying out to guide the king toward balanced, non-anxious ethical practice.