Shloka 15
Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda
अकृतेष्वेव कार्येषु मृत्युर्वें सम्प्रकर्षति । युवैव धर्मशील: स्यादनिमित्तं हि जीवितम्
akṛteṣv eva kāryeṣu mṛtyur vai samprakarṣati | yuvā eva dharmaśīlaḥ syād animittaṃ hi jīvitam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Selagi kewajipan masih belum disempurnakan, Maut benar-benar menarik seseorang pergi. Maka hendaklah manusia berpegang teguh pada dharma sejak muda, kerana hidup tiada jaminan yang tetap dan tiada sebab yang dapat diramal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not postpone dharma: since death can come while duties remain unfinished, one should cultivate righteous conduct early, recognizing the uncertainty of life.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma advises the listener that human life is unpredictable and that ethical practice should begin in youth rather than being deferred to old age.