Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
आपन्नो रिपुसंस्थो वा ब्रह्मशापार्दितो5पि वा । आपद्धर्माननुप्रेक्ष्य तत्कार्यममविशड्कया
āpanno ripusaṁstho vā brahmaśāpārdito 'pi vā | āpaddharmān anuprekṣya tat kāryam aviśaṅkayā ||
Wika ni Maheśvara: “Kapag ang isang tao ay napasailalim sa kapahamakan—maging siya man ay naipit sa gitna ng mga kaaway o kahit pinahihirapan ng sumpa ng isang brāhmaṇa—kung gayon, sa pagtanaw sa mga tungkuling angkop sa panahon ng pagdarahop (āpaddharma), gawin ang kinakailangan nang walang pag-aalinlangan.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
In times of severe crisis, one should evaluate conduct through the lens of āpaddharma (emergency-duty) and then act decisively, without wavering, to do what the situation requires.
Śrīmaheśvara is instructing about ethical action under extreme hardship—such as being surrounded by enemies or suffering from a brāhmaṇa’s curse—emphasizing prompt, doubt-free performance of the duty appropriate to distress.