Sundopasundayor Digvijayaḥ — The Conquests of Sunda and Upasunda
Nārada’s Account
कीर्तिरक्षणमातिष्ठ कीर्तिहि परमं बलम् । नष्टकीर्तेर्मनुष्यस्य जीवितं हाूफलं स्मृतम्,अतः अपनी कीर्तिकी रक्षा करो, कीर्ति ही श्रेष्ठ बल है; जिसकी कीर्ति नष्ट हो जाती है, उस मनुष्यका जीवन निष्फल माना गया है
Bhīṣma uvāca — kīrtirakṣaṇam ātiṣṭha, kīrtir hi paramaṃ balam | naṣṭakīrter manuṣyasya jīvitaṃ hy aphalaṃ smṛtam ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “Pangalagaan mo ang iyong mabuting pangalan; sapagkat ang dangal at reputasyon ang pinakadakilang lakas. Ang buhay ng taong nasira ang kanyang pangalan ay inaalala bilang buhay na walang bunga.”
भीष्म उवाच
One should actively protect one’s kīrti (honorable reputation), because moral standing and public trust function as a person’s greatest strength; when reputation is destroyed, life is considered devoid of meaningful fruit.
Bhishma delivers a didactic counsel, urging adherence to honorable conduct and warning that loss of reputation undermines the very purpose and efficacy of one’s life.