आपद्धर्मे कोशबलन्यायः | Treasury, Force, and Crisis-Ethics for the King
दृष्टवाहं तं कृश विप्रं भीत: परमदुर्मना: । पादौ तस्याभिवाद्याथ स्थित: प्राउजलिरग्रत:
dṛṣṭvāhaṃ taṃ kṛśa vipraṃ bhītaḥ paramadurmanāḥ | pādau tasyābhivādyātha sthitaḥ prāñjalir agrataḥ ||
Thấy vị Bà-la-môn gầy gò ấy, ta bỗng kinh hãi và lòng đau đớn khôn nguôi. Rồi ta cúi lạy dưới chân ông, chắp tay cung kính đứng trước mặt ông.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights dhārmic conduct: even when shaken by fear or guilt, one should respond with humility and respect toward a brāhmaṇa/elder—bowing at the feet and standing with folded hands—signaling readiness to listen, accept correction, and act ethically.
Bhīṣma describes his immediate reaction upon seeing a frail brāhmaṇa: he feels fear and deep mental anguish, then formally pays obeisance at the brāhmaṇa’s feet and stands before him with joined palms, indicating reverence and submission to the brāhmaṇa’s words.