Shloka 19
Adhyāya 115: On Restraint Under Verbal Provocation in the Assembly (सभायां आक्रोश-सहिष्णुता)
प्रत्युच्यमानस्त्वभि भूय एभि- निशाम्य मा भूस्त्वमथार्तरूप: । उच्चस्य नीचेन हि सम्प्रयोगं विगर्हयन्ति स्थिरबुद्धयों ये
pratyucyamānas tv abhi bhūya ebhir niśāmya mā bhūs tvam athārtarūpaḥ | uccasya nīcena hi samprayogaṁ vigarhayanti sthirabuddhayo ye ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେତେବେଳେ ଏମିତି ଦୁଷ୍ଟମାନେ ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ଆକ୍ରମଣ କରି ନିନ୍ଦା କରନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ତାହା ଶୁଣି ସଜ୍ଜନ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେବାକୁ ଉଦ୍ୟତ ହୁଏ, ତେବେ ତାକୁ ରୋକି କହିବା ଉଚିତ—“ତୁମେ ଦୁଃଖିତ ହେଉନାହିଁ।” କାରଣ ସ୍ଥିରବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନେ ଉଚ୍ଚ ପୁରୁଷଙ୍କର ନୀଚ ସହିତ ସଂଯୋଗକୁ—ମନେ ହେଉଛି ସମତା—ନିନ୍ଦା କରନ୍ତି।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not let a virtuous person be drawn into distressing exchanges with base people; the wise regard such engagement as a degrading association, so restraint and dignity are preferable to retaliatory speech.
In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous conduct, he advises that when wicked people attack and slander, a well-disposed person may feel compelled to reply; one should instead restrain him and remind him not to grieve, because the steadfast condemn a noble person’s entanglement with the ignoble.