Shloka 25
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
अड़़् मामन्ववेक्षस्व राजन्याय बुभूषते । यथा प्रमुच्यते त्वन्यो यदर्थ न प्रमोदते
aḍ māmanvavekṣasva rājanyāya bubhūṣate | yathā pramucyate tv anyo yadartha na pramodate, vatsa yudhiṣṭhira |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Tumingin ka sa akin, O hari—masdan mo ang aking ginawa. Sa mga pinunong Kshatriya na naghahangad ng paghahari sa buong daigdig, kumilos ako sa paraang sila’y mapalaya sa gapos ng sanlibutan—sa pagbulusok sa kanila sa digmaan at pagpapadala sa kanila sa langit. Bagama’t hindi ito sinang-ayunan ng iba at ako’y tinuligsa bilang malupit at marahas, hindi ko tinalikuran ang aking tungkulin. Gayon din, ikaw ay manatiling matatag sa landas ng sarili mong dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges steadfastness in svadharma: even if one’s duty appears harsh and attracts public blame, a kshatriya must act according to ordained responsibility, with the intention of upholding order rather than seeking personal pleasure or approval.
In the Shanti Parva dialogue, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on kingship and duty. Here he points to his own life as an example: he fought and killed rival warrior-kings, interpreting that act within the kshatriya framework as enabling their heavenly destiny, and he tells Yudhishthira to remain firm in his own royal obligations despite criticism.