Shloka 1
नृशंस-लक्षणनिर्णयः | Determining the Marks of Cruel Conduct
Nṛśaṃsa
नप्मआा यम () अआजअत+- सप्तपञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमोब ध्याय: सेमलका हार स्वीकार करना तथा बलवानके साथ वैर न करनेका उपदेश भीष्म उवाच ततो निश्चित्य मनसा शाल्मलि: क्षुभितस्तदा । शाखा: स्कन्धान् प्रशाखाश्न स्वयमेव व्यशातयत्
Bhīṣma uvāca: tato niścitya manasā śālmalī kṣubhitas tadā | śākhāḥ skandhān praśākhāś ca svayam eva vyaśātayat ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “Pagkaraan, nang mapagpasyahan na niya sa loob ng kanyang isip, ang punong śālmalī ay nabagabag. Sa sandaling iyon, kusa nitong ibinagsak ang sarili nitong mga sanga, malalaking bough, at maliliit na supang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage supports a practical dharmic lesson: one should act with foresight and self-restraint, and avoid provoking conflict—especially with those who are stronger—choosing de-escalation over prideful confrontation.
Bhishma narrates that the śālmalī tree, after deciding internally, becomes agitated and makes its own branches and offshoots fall—an image of deliberate self-limitation to avert greater harm in a situation of danger.