Shloka 8
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
तत्रैव कुरुते बुद्धि तत: पापं चिकीर्षति । सुहृद्धिवार्यमाणो5पि पण्डितैश्वापि भारत
tatraiva kurute buddhi tataḥ pāpaṃ cikīrṣati | suhṛdbhī vāryamāṇo 'pi paṇḍitaiś cāpi bhārata ||
ఓ భారత! అతడు అక్కడే తన బుద్ధిని నిలిపి, ఆపై పాపం చేయాలని నిశ్చయించుకుంటాడు; సుహృదులు, పండితులు ఆపినా అతడు ఆగడు.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When the mind becomes fixed on a harmful aim, a person may proceed toward sin even if friends and learned advisers try to stop him; therefore guarding intention and heeding good counsel are essential to dharma.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct and the roots of moral failure, describing a person who, once mentally committed to wrongdoing, disregards the restraining words of well-wishers and sages.