Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 34
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
कर्णिनालीकनाराचान् निर्हरन्ति शरीरत: । वाक्शल्यस्तु न निर्हर्तु शक्यो हृदिशयो हि सः
karṇinālīkanārācān nirharanti śarīrataḥ | vākśalyas tu na nirhartuṃ śakyo hṛdiśayo hi saḥ ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Những mũi tên có ngạnh—karṇin, nālīka, nārāca—khi găm vào thân thể, thầy thuốc còn rút ra được. Nhưng mũi tên của lời nói cay nghiệt thì không thể nhổ, vì nó cắm sâu trong tim.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Physical injuries may be treated and removed, but the pain caused by cruel or cutting words is harder to heal because it remains lodged in the heart; therefore one should practice restraint and compassion in speech.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and conduct, he uses a battlefield image—different kinds of arrows being extracted from the body—to contrast bodily wounds with the deeper, lasting wound inflicted by speech.