Shloka 116
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
एकैकस्ते तदा पाश: क्रमश: परिमोक्ष्यते । “महान् असुर! जब प्रजाजनोंका न्यायके विपरीत आचरण होने लगेगा
ekaikaḥ te tadā pāśaḥ kramaśaḥ parimokṣyate | asmattaḥ te bhayaṃ nāsti samayaṃ pratipālaya | sukhī bhava nirābādhaḥ svasthacetā nirāmayaḥ |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Pada saat itu, ikatan-ikatanmu akan dilonggarkan satu demi satu menurut tertibnya. Daripada pihak kami, engkau tiada apa yang perlu ditakuti—tunggulah saat yang telah ditetapkan. Hiduplah dengan tenteram: tanpa gangguan, teguh fikiran, dan bebas daripada penyakit.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames liberation from restraint as governed by time and moral conditions: one should not force outcomes but wait for the destined moment. It also implies that societal ethical collapse (described in the surrounding context) becomes the condition under which destructive forces gain freedom.
Bhishma addresses an asura who is bound by 'pāśas' (fetters). He assures the asura there is no immediate threat from Bhishma’s side and instructs him to wait; in due course, the bonds will loosen one by one, linked to the unfolding of time and the degeneration of dharma described around this verse.