Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda
सत्यकाम: समो दान्तः सत्येनैवान्तकं॑ जयेत् | अतः मनुष्यको सत्यव्रतका आचरण करना चाहिये। सत्यरूपी व्रतके पालनमें तत्पर रहना चाहिये। वह सत्यकी कामना करे। सबके प्रति समान भाव रखे। जितेन्द्रिय बने और सत्यके द्वारा ही मृत्युपर विजय प्राप्त करे
satyakāmaḥ samo dāntaḥ satyenaivāntakaṃ jayet | ato manuṣyako satyavratakā ācaraṇa karanā cāhiye | satyarūpī vratake pālanameṃ tatpara rahanā cāhiye | vah satyakī kāmanā kare | sabake prati samānabhāva rakhe | jitendriya bane aur satyake dvārā hī mṛtyupar vijaya prāpta kare |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang tao ay dapat maging naghahangad ng katotohanan, may pantay na loob at may pagpipigil-sa-sarili. Sa katotohanan lamang dapat daigin si Antaka (Kamatayan). Kaya nararapat sa tao na isabuhay ang panatang katotohanan, manatiling tapat sa pagsunod sa panatang ito, linangin ang pananabik sa katotohanan, magtaglay ng pantay na pagtingin sa lahat, pagharian ang mga pandama, at sa pamamagitan mismo ng katotohanan ay magwagi laban sa kamatayan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Truthfulness is presented as a disciplined vow: one should aspire to truth, remain impartial and self-restrained, and rely on truth as the decisive power that overcomes even Death (Antaka).
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma after the war. Here he emphasizes satya (truth) as a central ethical practice—linking truthful conduct with inner mastery (jitendriya) and ultimate victory over mortality.