Shloka 31
प्रतिग्रहभेदः — The Distinction between Giving and Accepting
Vṛṣādarbhī–Saptarṣi Dialogue
विवस्वान् वीर्यवान् ह्वीमान् कीर्तिमान्ू कृत एव च । जितात्मा मुनिवीर्यश्व दीप्तरोमा भयंकर:
Vivasvān vīryavān hrīmān kīrtimān kṛta eva ca | jitātmā munivīryaś ca dīptaromā bhayaṅkaraḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Vivasvān gagah perkasa, berdaya wira, memiliki kekangan diri yang sopan serta termasyhur; dan dia juga sempurna dalam laku dharma. Dia menguasai diri, memiliki kekuatan rohani seorang muni, bersinar dalam wibawa, dan menggetarkan hati.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises an ideal of excellence grounded in dharma: true greatness combines strength (vīrya) with moral restraint (hrī), fame earned through right conduct (kīrti), and inner mastery (jitātmā). Awe-inspiring power is presented as legitimate when rooted in self-control and spiritual merit.
In Bhīṣma’s discourse, a figure—here Vivasvān—is being described through a catalogue of virtues. The narration highlights his moral and spiritual stature, portraying him as both radiant and formidable, thereby supporting Bhīṣma’s broader instruction on dharma and exemplary conduct.