Shloka 8
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
तस्य शौचममृष्यन्तस्ते सर्वे सहजातय: । चालयन्ति स्म तां बुद्धि वचनै: प्रश्नयोत्तरै:
tasya śaucam amṛṣyantas te sarve sahajātyaḥ | cālayanti sma tāṁ buddhiṁ vacanaiḥ praśnottaraiḥ ||
तस्य शौचममृष्यन्तस्ते सर्वे सहजातयः। चालयन्ति स्म तां बुद्धिं वचनैः प्रश्नयोत्तरैः॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even genuine purity and disciplined living can provoke resentment in one’s own circle; ethical steadiness is tested not only by open hostility but also by persuasive, seemingly reasonable arguments meant to shake one’s resolve.
Bhīṣma describes how a person’s pure conduct becomes intolerable to his own community/kinsmen, who then attempt to disturb his moral discernment through persuasive talk and debate-like questioning.