Shloka 5
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
प्रत्यक्ष भिन्नहृदया भेदयेयु: कृतं नरा: । श्रियाभितप्ता: कौन्तेय भेदकामास्तथारय:
pratyakṣa-bhinnahṛdayā bhedayeyuḥ kṛtaṃ narāḥ | śriyābhitaptāḥ kaunteya bhedakāmās tathārayāḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kung hayagang magpaparusa ang panganay dahil sa kasalanan, mapupunit at masasaktan ang puso ng mga nakababatang kapatid; at ikakalat nila sa mga tao ang gayong mabagsik na pagtrato. Sa pagtanaw sa kanilang kasaganaan, maraming kaaway—nasusunog sa inggit, O anak ni Kunti—ang magnanais at magsisikap na maghasik ng pagkakawatak-watak sa kanila.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Discipline should be administered with discretion: public, harsh punishment within a family can fracture hearts and invite outsiders—especially envious enemies—to exploit the resulting resentment and create lasting divisions.
In Bhishma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira on conduct and governance, he warns that when an elder brother punishes a younger brother openly, the younger may feel humiliated and publicize the grievance; this makes the family vulnerable to enemies who, jealous of their prosperity, seek to foment discord.