तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
आढ्याक्ष बलवन्तक्ष यौवनस्थाश्ष भारत । ये वै जितेन्द्रिया धीरास्ते नरा: स्वर्गगामिन:,भारत! जो धनी, बलवान् और नौजवान होकर भी अपनी इन्द्रियोंको वशमें रखते हैं, वे धीर पुरुष स्वर्गगामी होते हैं
āḍhyāḥ ca balavantaḥ ca yauvanasthāś ca bhārata | ye vai jitendriyā dhīrās te narāḥ svargagāminaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Wahai Bharata, mereka yang meskipun dikurniai kekayaan, kekuatan, dan semangat usia muda, tetap menundukkan indera—teguh dan menguasai diri—itulah orang bijaksana; mereka menuju syurga.
भीष्म उवाच
Worldly advantages—wealth, strength, and youth—become spiritually fruitful only when governed by self-control. Conquering the senses (jitendriya) is presented as a mark of true steadiness (dhīra) and a cause of higher destiny (svarga).
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he highlights the ethical ideal of restraint, especially difficult yet most praiseworthy for those in the prime of life and prosperity.