Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
बाष्पपूर्णमुखी दीना दृष्टवा त॑ं रूदती सुतम् । पूजनी दुःखसंतप्ता रुदती वाक्यमब्रवीत्
bāṣpa-pūrṇa-mukhī dīnā dṛṣṭvā taṁ rūdatī sutam | pūjanī duḥkha-santaptā rudatī vākyam abravīt ||
Bhishma berkata: Melihat anaknya menerima nasib yang demikian, wajah Pūjanī dibanjiri air mata. Wanita yang patut dihormati itu, dalam kemiskinan dan dibakar dukacita, menangis lalu mengucapkan kata-kata ini—
भीष्म उवाच
The verse frames grief as a morally significant moment: intense suffering reveals human vulnerability and often becomes the occasion for counsel about dharma—how one should speak and act when overwhelmed by sorrow.
A revered mother sees her son crying; her own face fills with tears. Tormented by sorrow, she begins to address him—this verse introduces her lament or instruction that follows.