Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
हेतुवादान् ब्रुवन् सत्सु विजेताहेतुवादिक: । आक्रोष्टा चातिवक्ता च ब्राह्मणानां सदैव हि
bhīṣma uvāca | hetuvādān bruvan satsu vijetāhetuvādikaḥ | ākroṣṭā cātivaktā ca brāhmaṇānāṃ sadaiva hi |
Disse Bhishma: Aquele que, na assembleia dos bons, profere meras disputas e vence por sofismas; que vocifera insultos e fala em excesso, sem freio—especialmente contra os brāhmaṇas—deve ser tido por impuro no convívio. Os sábios o compararam a um cão.
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma condemns winning debates through empty sophistry and abusive loud speech, especially when directed at Brahmins and the virtuous. True dharma requires disciplined reasoning aligned with śāstra and respectful conduct; mere contentious logic and reviling speech mark a person as socially and morally impure.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he characterizes a type of person—one who relies on captious argument and reviling speech in the assembly of good people—and states that such a person should be treated as impure and is censured by the wise.