Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
स ऋषीन् वाहयामास वरदानमदान्वित: । परिहीणक्रियश्वैव दुर्बलत्वमुपेयिवान्
sa ṛṣīn vāhayāmāsa varadānamadānvitāḥ | parihīṇakriyaś caiva durbalatvam upeyivān |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Dahil sa pagmamataas na dulot ng mga biyayang ipinagkaloob, pinilit niya ang mga pantas na rishi na maging tagapasan niya. Kaya siya’y lumihis sa wastong gawi ng dharma at sa mga itinakdang tungkulin; at sa gayon ay nalugmok sa kahinaan—nawalan ng lakas na nagmumula sa dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power or extraordinary gifts (boons) can breed arrogance; when one violates dharma—especially by humiliating the virtuous—one loses inner strength and declines. Dharma is presented as the true source of bala (strength).
A person, intoxicated by the pride of having received boons, compels sages to act as his bearers. This disrespect and abandonment of proper conduct causes him to become spiritually and morally weakened.