आपद्धर्मे कोशबलन्यायः | Treasury, Force, and Crisis-Ethics for the King
दृष्टवाहं तं कृश विप्रं भीत: परमदुर्मना: । पादौ तस्याभिवाद्याथ स्थित: प्राउजलिरग्रत:,मैं उन दुबले-पतले ब्राह्मणको देखकर डर गया और मन-ही-मन बहुत दुखी हो गया; फिर उनके चरणोंमें प्रणाम करके दोनों हाथ जोड़कर उनके आगे खड़ा हो गया
dṛṣṭvāhaṃ taṃ kṛśa vipraṃ bhītaḥ paramadurmanāḥ | pādau tasyābhivādyātha sthitaḥ prāñjalir agrataḥ ||
तो कृश ब्राह्मण पाहताच मी भयभीत झालो आणि अंतःकरणात अत्यंत खिन्न झालो. मग त्यांच्या चरणी प्रणाम करून, दोन्ही हात जोडून, त्यांच्या समोर उभा राहिलो.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights dhārmic conduct: even when shaken by fear or guilt, one should respond with humility and respect toward a brāhmaṇa/elder—bowing at the feet and standing with folded hands—signaling readiness to listen, accept correction, and act ethically.
Bhīṣma describes his immediate reaction upon seeing a frail brāhmaṇa: he feels fear and deep mental anguish, then formally pays obeisance at the brāhmaṇa’s feet and stands before him with joined palms, indicating reverence and submission to the brāhmaṇa’s words.