Shloka 34
दैव–पुरुषकार-प्रश्नः
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Inquiry: Fate and Human Effort
वसुर्यज्ञशतैरिष्टवा द्वितीय इव वासव: । मिथ्याभिधानेनैकेन रसातलतलं गत:,द्वितीय इन्द्रके समान सौ यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करके भी राजा वसु एक ही मिथ्या भाषणके दोषसे रसातलको चले गये
Bhīṣma uvāca | vasur yajñaśatair iṣṭvā dvitīya iva vāsavaḥ | mithyābhidhānenaikena rasātalatalam gataḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Si Haring Vasu, na nagsagawa ng sandaang handog at wari’y ikalawang Indra, ay bumagsak pa rin sa kailaliman ng Rasātala dahil sa iisang gawa ng pagsisinungaling. Ipinahihiwatig nito na ang gantimpala ng mga ritwal ay hindi panangga sa bunga ng kasalanan ng di-katotohanan; ang isang sinadyang kasinungalingan ay maaaring manaig sa napakaraming naipong gawaing panrelihiyon.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness is a central pillar of dharma: even immense ritual merit (such as performing a hundred sacrifices) can be nullified by a single deliberate false statement, which brings grave karmic consequence.
Bhishma cites King Vasu as a cautionary example: though Vasu was celebrated like a second Indra for his many sacrifices, one instance of false speech led to his fall to Rasātala, illustrating the seriousness of lying.