Shloka 8
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
स्वाध्यायेन वियुक्तो हि ब्रह्म॒वर्चसवर्जित: । तद्व्र॒तस्तत्र मे शंका हन्यात् तं॑ स द्विजाधम:
svādhyāyena viyukto hi brahmavarcasa-varjitaḥ | tadvratas tatra me śaṅkā hanyāt taṃ sa dvijādhamaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: «Sapagkat siya’y walang svādhyāya (sariling pag-aaral at pagbigkas ng Veda) at salat sa brahmanikong ningning. Ang kanyang asal ay waring nakatuon sa gayong landas; kaya’t pinaghihinalaan ko siya—baka ang hamak na Brāhmaṇa na iyon ang pumatay sa aking kaibigan.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links ethical reliability to disciplined learning: one who abandons svādhyāya and lacks brahmavarcasa (the moral-spiritual authority born of Vedic discipline) is portrayed as prone to harmful conduct, and thus becomes an object of justified caution.
Bhishma expresses apprehension about an unworthy Brahmin whose lack of Vedic study and spiritual radiance makes him seem violent; Bhishma fears that this person may harm (even kill) Bhishma’s friend.