Shloka 81
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
जब मैं एक बार अपने पदसे भ्रष्ट और अपमानित हो गया, तब पुनः: आप मुझपर कैसे विश्वास कर सकेंगे? अथवा मैं ही कैसे आपके पास रह सकूँगा? ।।
yadāhaṁ ekavāraṁ svapadāt bhraṣṭaḥ apamānitaś ca abhavam, tadā punaḥ kathaṁ bhavān mayi viśvāsaṁ kariṣyati? athavā aham eva kathaṁ tava samīpe sthātuṁ śakṣyāmi? samartha iti saṅgṛhya sthāpayitvā parīkṣitaḥ; kṛtaṁ ca samayaṁ bhittvā tvayāham avamānitaḥ.
Wika ni Bhishma: “Nang minsan akong napatalsik sa tungkulin at napahiya sa harap ng madla, paano mo pa ako muling mapagkakatiwalaan? At paano naman ako mananatili sa iyong harapan? Tinanggap mo ako bilang ‘may kakayahan,’ iniluklok sa katungkulan at sinubok; ngunit pagkaraan, nilabag mo ang mismong kasunduang ginawa mo at dinungisan ang aking dangal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Trust in governance depends on keeping one’s pledged word and preserving the dignity of those appointed to office; once an agreement is broken and a person is publicly dishonoured, the moral basis for continued service and mutual confidence is damaged.
Bhishma voices the ethical and practical consequences of being dismissed and insulted after being appointed and tested: he questions how the other party can trust him again, and how he can remain near them, since the prior compact has been violated.