तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
अपराधिषु सस्नेहा मृदवो मृदुवत्सला: । आराधनसुखाश्षापि पुरुषा: स्वर्गगामिन:
aparādhiṣu sasnehā mṛdavo mṛduvatsalāḥ | ārādhanasukhaś cāpi puruṣāḥ svargagāminaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Mereka yang tetap berkasih sayang bahkan kepada orang yang bersalah, yang berwatak lembut, yang mengasihi orang yang lembut budi, dan yang menemukan kebahagiaan dalam menghormati serta melayani orang lain—mereka menuju syurga.
भीष्म उवाच
Compassion even toward wrongdoers, a gentle temperament, affection for the gentle, and joy in serving others are presented as dharmic qualities that generate spiritual merit and lead to a higher posthumous state (svarga).
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on righteous conduct, listing virtues and their fruits; here he states that tenderness, mercy, and delight in respectful service are marks of the virtuous who attain heaven.