Shloka 3
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
भीष्म उवाच पुत्रदारै: सुखैश्वैव वियुक्तस्य धनेन वा । मग्नस्य व्यसने कृच्छे धृति: श्रेयल्करी नूप
bhīṣma uvāca putradāraiḥ sukhaiś caiva viyuktasya dhanena vā | magnasya vyasane kṛcchre dhṛtiḥ śreyaskarī nṛpa ||
Bhishma bersabda: “Wahai raja, bagi orang yang terpisah daripada anak dan isteri, atau daripada kesenangan bahkan juga harta—yang tenggelam dalam bencana dan kesusahan yang keras—keteguhan hati (dhṛti) itulah yang membawa kebaikan sejati. Dalam saat malang, daya tahan dan kekuatan batin menjadi sandaran yang paling bermanfaat, menuntun seseorang kembali kepada yang benar dan sejahtera.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a person loses family, comforts, or wealth and is overwhelmed by misfortune, dhṛti—steady inner resolve and endurance—is the most beneficial virtue. It preserves clarity and dharma when external supports collapse.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on righteous conduct and mental discipline after the war. Here he emphasizes that in severe distress, steadfastness is the key support for recovery and right action.