Shloka 8
अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
मुहूर्तमथ संचिन्त्य ब्राह्मणस्तस्य रक्षस: । आभिर्गाथाभिरव्यग्र: प्रश्न प्रतिजगाद ह
muhūrtam atha sañcintya brāhmaṇas tasya rakṣasaḥ | ābhir gāthābhir avyagraḥ praśnaṃ pratijagāda ha ||
Nghe vậy, vị Bà-la-môn trầm ngâm suy nghĩ trong chốc lát; rồi với tâm bình thản, không hề rối loạn, ông bắt đầu đáp câu hỏi của con rākṣasa bằng những vần kệ sau—chọn lời chừng mực, không vội vàng trước sự uy hiếp.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint: before responding—especially under pressure—one should reflect briefly and speak with composure. Thoughtful, undisturbed speech is presented as a mark of dharmic conduct.
Bhīṣma narrates that a brāhmaṇa, after pausing to think, begins answering a rākṣasa’s question using metrical verses (gāthās), indicating a deliberate and calm reply rather than an impulsive reaction.