Shloka 114
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
उद्दीपकाश्न गृध्राश्ष॒ कपोता भ्रमरास्तथा | निविशेयुर्यदा तत्र शान्तिमेव तदा55चरेत् । अमंगल्यानि चैतानि तथाक्रोशो महात्मनाम्
uddīpakāś ca gṛdhrāś ca kapotā bhramarās tathā | niviśeyur yadā tatra śāntim eva tadā caret || amaṅgalyāni caitāni tathākrośo mahātmanām ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଉଦ୍ଦୀପକ ପକ୍ଷୀ, ଗିଧ, ଜଙ୍ଗଲୀ କପୋତ ଓ ଭ୍ରମର ଆଦି ଯଦି କେବେ ଘରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରନ୍ତି, ତେବେ ସେତେବେଳେ କେବଳ ଶାନ୍ତିକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; କାରଣ ଏମାନେ ଅମଙ୍ଗଳ ସୂଚକ ମନାଯାନ୍ତି। ଏହିପରି ମହାତ୍ମାମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିନ୍ଦା କରିବା ମଧ୍ୟ ମନୁଷ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ଅନିଷ୍ଟ ଦିଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Two linked ethical cautions are given: (1) when inauspicious signs appear (here, certain creatures entering the home), one should respond with calming, corrective action—śānti—rather than panic or aggression; (2) more importantly, abusing or disparaging noble, great-souled people is itself a direct cause of one’s misfortune.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on righteous conduct (Anuśāsana Parva), he lists traditional omens and prescribes the appropriate response: perform pacificatory measures if such signs occur. He then broadens the lesson to moral causality, warning that reviling the virtuous is also an inauspicious act that harms the doer.