Shloka 5
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
संस्मृत्य पूर्व भूतिं च निर्वेदं परमं गत: । न भक्षयति मांसानि परैरुपहृतान्यपि
saṁsmṛtya pūrva-bhūtiṁ ca nirvedaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ | na bhakṣayati māṁsāni parair upahṛtāny api ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਪਿਛਲੇ ਜਨਮ ਦੀ ਸਮ੍ਰਿੱਧੀ ਯਾਦ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਸ ਗਿੱਦੜ ਨੂੰ ਪਰਮ ਪਛਤਾਵਾ ਤੇ ਵੈਰਾਗ ਆ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਹੋਰਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਲਿਆ ਕੇ ਭੇਟ ਕੀਤਾ ਮਾਸ ਵੀ ਉਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦਾ ਸੀ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ethical change begins with inner awakening: remembering the impermanence of past prosperity can produce nirveda (deep disenchantment), leading to restraint and refusal to participate—directly or indirectly—in harmful indulgence.
In Bhishma’s discourse, a jackal recalls his former state of prosperity; this memory triggers profound remorse and detachment, and as a result he stops eating meat even when others bring it to him.