अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः
Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness
अभयं यस्य भूतेभ्य: सर्वेषामभयं यत: । नमस्य: सर्वभूतानां दान्तो भवति बुद्धिमान्
abhayaṁ yasya bhūtebhyaḥ sarveṣām abhayaṁ yataḥ | namasyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ dānto bhavati buddhimān ||
Bhishma berkata: Orang yang bijaksana dan menahan diri, yang tidak takut terhadap semua makhluk—dan yang daripadanya semua makhluk pula menjadi bebas daripada ketakutan—menjadi layak dihormati oleh setiap yang bernyawa. Dia menzahirkan dharma bukan dengan paksaan, tetapi dengan menjadikan dunia di sekelilingnya berasa aman.
भीष्म उवाच
True wisdom and discipline are shown by creating fearlessness: one should be harmless and steady so that all beings feel safe in one’s presence; such a person naturally becomes worthy of universal respect.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by describing the marks of a virtuous person—here, the one whose self-restraint and non-threatening conduct remove fear from others.