नृशंस-लक्षणनिर्णयः | Determining the Marks of Cruel Conduct
Nṛśaṃsa
न हि वैरं महात्मानो विवृण्वन्त्यपकारिषु । शनै: शनैर्महाराज दर्शयन्ति सम ते बलम्,महाराज! महामनस्वी पुरुष अपनी बुराई करने-वालोंपर वैरभाव नहीं प्रकट करते हैं। वे धीरे-धीरे ही अपना बल दिखाते हैं
na hi vairaṁ mahātmāno vivṛṇvanty apakāriṣu | śanaiḥ śanair mahārāja darśayanti sama te balam ||
न हि वैरं महात्मानो विवृण्वन्त्यपकारिषु। शनैः शनैर्महाराज दर्शयन्ति समे तु ते बलम्॥
भीष्य उवाच
Noble people do not rush to display hatred or vengeance when harmed; they remain composed and reveal their power with patience and discernment, acting at the right time rather than from impulsive anger.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma counsels the ruler on ethical and strategic conduct: how a great person responds to injury—without overt hostility, but with controlled, gradual assertion of strength.