Shloka 23
Durgātitaraṇa—Conduct for Crossing Difficulties (दुर्गातितरणम्)
यात्रार्थ भोजन येषां संतानार्थ च मैथुनम् । वाक् सत्यवचनार्थाय दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते
yātrārtha-bhojanaṁ yeṣāṁ santānārthaṁ ca maithunam | vāk satya-vacanārthāya durgāṇy atitaranti te ||
ज्यांचे भोजन चवीसाठी नसून जीवनयात्रेच्या निर्वाहासाठी असते; जे भोगासाठी नव्हे तर संतानप्राप्तीसाठी मैथुन करतात; आणि ज्यांची वाणी केवळ सत्य बोलण्यासाठी असते—ते दुर्गम संकटे पार करतात।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moderation and restraint in bodily appetites (food and sex) together with unwavering truthfulness in speech form a practical dharmic discipline; such a life equips a person to overcome severe difficulties.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and right conduct. Here he summarizes a rule of disciplined living—eat to live, engage in sexuality with the aim of progeny, and speak only truth—stating that such people pass safely through crises.