Shloka 32
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
गृध्र उदाच अहो बत नृशंसेन जम्बुकेनाल्पमेधसा । क्षुद्रेणोक्ता हीनसत्त्वा मानुषा: कि निवर्तथ
gṛdhra uvāca: aho bata nṛśaṃsena jambukena alpamedhasā | kṣudreṇoktā hīnasattvā mānuṣāḥ kiṃ nivartatha ||
گِدھ نے کہا—ہائے افسوس! اس کم عقل، فطرتاً سنگ دل اور حقیر گیدڑ کی باتوں میں آ کر تم انسان—جو ثباتِ دل سے خالی ہو—کیسے پلٹ آئے؟ تم کیوں پسپا ہوتے ہو؟
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not abandon resolve or right action merely because a base, ill-intentioned speaker uses persuasive words. Ethical steadiness requires discernment (buddhi) and courage (sattva), not susceptibility to fear or manipulation.
In Bhīṣma’s narration, a vulture rebukes humans for turning back after being influenced by a jackal’s contemptible, cruel counsel. The vulture’s speech highlights their lack of fortitude and questions their retreat.