Shloka 73
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
अनुज्ञाप्य मृगेन्द्रं तु गोमायुर्नीतिशास्त्रवित् । तेनामर्षेण संतप्त: प्रायमासितुमैच्छत,तत्पश्चात् नीतिशास्त्रके ज्ञाता सियारने मृगरगाजकी आज्ञा लेकर अमर्षसे संतप्त हो उपवास करके प्राण त्याग देनेका विचार किया
anujñāpya mṛgendraṃ tu gomāyur nītiśāstravit | tenāmarṣeṇa saṃtaptaḥ prāyam āsitum aicchat ||
Bhishma disse: “Tendo obtido licença do senhor das feras (o leão), o chacal—versado no nīti-śāstra, a ciência da política—ardia de ressentimento. Dominado por essa indignação, quis empreender o prāya: jejuar até a morte, pensando em abandonar a vida.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Learning in nīti (ethical and political wisdom) is incomplete without inner discipline; resentment (amarṣa) can overpower reason and push one toward harmful extremes like self-destruction. The verse implicitly upholds self-mastery as a key component of dharma.
A jackal, described as knowledgeable in nīti-śāstra, takes leave of the lion (mṛgendra). Burning with indignation, he considers undertaking prāya—fasting unto death—as a response to his wounded pride/resentment.