Shloka 7
Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
अतोडन्यथा वर्तमाना: सर्वे नाहन्ति सत्क्रियाम् । तस्मान्नित्यं परीक्षेत पुरुषान् प्रणिधाय वै
atoḍa-nyathā vartamānāḥ sarve nāhanti satkriyām | tasmān nityaṃ parīkṣeta puruṣān praṇidhāya vai ||
Bhishma berkata: “Mereka yang berkelakuan menyimpang—tanpa kawalan diri dan disiplin yang wajar—tidak menegakkan budi pekerti yang benar. Oleh itu, hendaklah seseorang sentiasa menilai manusia, dengan fikiran yang waspada dan penuh perhatian, sebelum meletakkan kepercayaan atau menyerahkan tanggungjawab kepada mereka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Good conduct is not sustained by those who live without proper restraint and in a contrary way; therefore, one should continually test and verify people with careful attention before relying on them.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing on dharma and practical ethics; here he emphasizes prudent discernment—evaluating a person’s character and conduct—rather than granting trust automatically.