Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
न हि तेजस्विनां शापास्तेज:सु प्रभवन्ति वै । बलान्यतिबल प्राप्य दुर्बलानि भवन्ति वै
na hi tejasvināṃ śāpās tejaḥsu prabhavanti vai | balāny atibalaṃ prāpya durbalāni bhavanti vai ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang mga sumpa ng mga nagliliwanag at makapangyarihan ay hindi tunay na umepekto sa mga taong sila man ay nagliliwanag sa lakas ng diwa at dangal. Gayundin, ang karaniwang lakas—gaano man karami—ay nanghihina kapag humaharap sa isang lubhang makapangyarihan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That superior inner radiance and strength (tejas) renders hostile forces—such as curses or lesser powers—ineffective; true power is not merely external but rooted in inherent excellence and moral-spiritual force.
Bhishma is instructing by a general principle: maledictions and ordinary strengths fail against one who possesses greater tejas and atibala, emphasizing hierarchy of power and the primacy of inner potency.