Shloka 38
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
अप्येवात्मवध॑ लोके राजंस्त्वं बहु मन्यसे । न हि प्रतिज्ञा या दत्ता तां प्रहातुमरिंदम
apy evātmavadhaṁ loke rājan tvaṁ bahu manyase | na hi pratijñā yā dattā tāṁ prahātum arindama ||
毗湿摩说道：“大王啊，你当真以为在此世自我毁灭才是更大的选择吗？一旦立下的誓愿，便不应抛弃，噬敌者啊。你已承担起征服仇敌、以正义治理臣民之责；若任由悲痛驱使而趋向自尽，便是背离那正法的决心。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A solemn vow (pratijñā) binds ethically; abandoning it out of grief—especially by choosing suicide—is presented as a fall from dharma, particularly for a ruler whose duty is just protection and governance.
Bhishma addresses a king who is contemplating self-destruction due to sorrow. He rebukes the idea and urges the king to uphold his pledged duty of righteous rule rather than renounce it in despair.