Shloka 174
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
तदेवमनुसंदृश्य वाच्यावाच्यं परीक्षता | स्त्रीपुंसोी: समवायो<यं त्वया वाच्यो न संसदि
tad evam anusandṛśya vācyāvācyaṁ parīkṣatā | strī-puṁsoḥ samavāyo 'yaṁ tvayā vācyo na saṁsadi ||
ଏହିପରି ଭାବି ଏଠାରେ କ’ଣ କହିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ଓ କ’ଣ ନୁହେଁ—ତାହା ଭଲଭାବେ ପରୀକ୍ଷା କର। ଏହି ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସଭାରେ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ-ପୁରୁଷ ସଂଯୋଗର କଥା କେବେ ମଧ୍ୟ କହିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ।
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should discriminate between what is fit to say and what is unfit, especially in a public assembly. Even if a matter is true or relevant, topics that violate decorum—here, discussion of sexual union—should be restrained; ethical speech is guided by propriety, context, and the dignity of the forum.
Bhīṣma is instructing his listener during the Śānti Parva’s didactic discourse on dharma. He cautions that in a crowded royal assembly one must avoid certain intimate subjects, emphasizing careful judgment (parīkṣā) of speech according to place and audience.