Shloka 16
इति संचिन्त्य यत्नेन समित्र: सबलानुग: । वज्चितो<स्मीति मन्वानो मां किलोद्धर्तुमिच्छति
iti sañcintya yatnena samitraḥ sabalānugaḥ | vañcito 'smīti manvāno māṃ kiloddhartum icchati |
«Depois de refletir com cuidado, ele—acompanhado de amigos e seguido por suas forças—crê: “Fui enganado.” Por isso deseja vir e arrancar-me com esforço deliberado. Ó Suśroṇī, o que aqui é verdadeiro e o que é falso? Ó bela, só tu deves dizer-me isto. Tendo ouvido de tua boca palavras auspiciosas, agirei de acordo.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical decision-making grounded in discernment: before acting in anger or retaliation based on suspicion of deception, one should ascertain what is true and what is false, and then act in accordance with trustworthy counsel.
A person, convinced that he has been deceived, prepares to act forcefully with allies and troops. The speaker (Bhīṣma) frames this as a moment requiring clarification and urges the addressed woman—praised as suśroṇī/śobhanā—to state what is true, promising to act according to her auspicious words.