Shloka 93
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
भीष्म उवाच तथा धर्मविरोधेन प्रियमिथ्याभिधायिना । श्मशानवासिना नित्यं रात्रि मृगयता नूप
bhīṣma uvāca tathā dharmavirodhena priyamithyābhidhāyinā | śmaśānavāsinā nityaṁ rātri mṛgayatā nṛpa ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “O hari, ang nilalang na iyon—na laging naninirahan sa pook ng pagsusunog ng bangkay—ay naghintay ng gabi upang maisakatuparan ang kanyang pakay. Kaya sa pamamagitan ng mga salitang kaaya-aya ngunit mapanlinlang, at salungat sa dharma, isinabit niya sa pag-aalinlangan at pagkaantala ang mga kamag-anak ng bata. Hindi sila makausad, ni makapanatiling payapa; sa huli, napilitan silang manatili.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speech that is pleasant but false—and especially speech opposed to dharma—can become a tool of harm. The verse warns that flattering deception can paralyze right action by creating hesitation and confusion, so ethical speech must be aligned with dharma, not merely with what sounds agreeable.
Bhishma describes a deceitful being (in the surrounding story, a jackal-like figure) who lives near the cremation-ground and waits for night to further its scheme. By uttering sweet-sounding lies contrary to dharma, it causes the boy’s relatives to become stuck—unable to decide whether to proceed or withdraw—until they end up remaining there.