Shloka 20
Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Ātma-saṃyama (Marks of Social Conduct and Self-Restraint) | वर्णलक्षणम् एवं आत्मसंयमः
अलमन्यैरुपालम्भै: कीर्तितिश्न व्यतिक्रमै: । पेशलं चानुरूपं च कर्तव्यं हितमात्मन:
alam anyair upālambhaiḥ kīrtitiśna vyatikramaiḥ | peśalaṃ cānurūpaṃ ca kartavyaṃ hitam ātmanaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Walang tunay na saysay ang manumbat sa iba o abala sa pagsasalaysay ng sari-saring paglabag ng mga tao. Sa halip, gawin ang gawaing marikit, angkop sa iyong kalagayan, at kinikilalang kapaki-pakinabang para sa sarili.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not waste energy on blaming others or cataloguing their faults; instead, focus on performing actions that are refined, appropriate to one’s station, and truly beneficial—ethical self-governance over moral gossip.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct after the war, emphasizing restraint in speech and a practical focus on one’s own righteous action.