Shloka 4
Devanagari script
एतावन्मात्रमेतद्धि भूतानां प्राज्ञलक्षणम् | कालयुक्तो5प्युभयविच्छेषं॑ युक्त समाचरेत्
Transliteration
etāvanmātram etaddhi bhūtānāṁ prājñalakṣaṇam | kālayukto 'py ubhayaviccheṣaṁ yuktaḥ samācaret |
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“这正是众生智慧的标志：信受达摩之果报，便投身于其实践。即使被时势与命运的不利所束缚，能分辨应为与不应为的人，也当依分寸而行——择达摩而从之，在境遇所许之内尽力奉行。”
Word by Word
{'etāvanmātram''only this much
{'etāvanmātram':
to this extent alone', 'etat''this (teaching/point)', 'hi': 'indeed
to this extent alone', 'etat':
for', 'bhūtānām''of beings
for', 'bhūtānām':
of living creatures', 'prājña-lakṣaṇam''mark/sign of the wise
of living creatures', 'prājña-lakṣaṇam':
characteristic of discernment', 'kāla-yuktaḥ''joined with time
characteristic of discernment', 'kāla-yuktaḥ':
subject to circumstances/time (often implying fate/adversity)', 'api''even
subject to circumstances/time (often implying fate/adversity)', 'api':
although', 'ubhaya''both (twofold)', 'viccheṣam': 'distinction
although', 'ubhaya':
separation (herebetween two alternatives)', 'yuktaḥ': 'fit
separation (here:
appropriate', 'samācaret''should practice/perform
appropriate', 'samācaret':
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Educational Q&A
Wisdom is shown by discerning duty from non-duty and continuing to practice dharma appropriately even when circumstances (kāla) are unfavorable, trusting that dharma bears fruit.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on ethical conduct: the wise do not abandon dharma due to adverse fate or timing, but act rightly within what is possible.