Shloka 12
Durgātitaraṇa—Conduct for Crossing Difficulties (दुर्गातितरणम्)
जो लोग प्राण जानेका अवसर उपस्थित होनेपर भी सत्य बोलना नहीं छोड़ते, वे सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंके विश्वासपात्र बने रहकर सभी दु:खोंसे पार हो जाते हैं ।।
karmāṇy akuhakārthāni yeṣāṃ vācaś ca sūnṛtāḥ | yeṣām arthāś ca sambaddhā durgāṇy atitaranti te ||
毗湿摩说道：那些即使临到舍命之机也不弃真实者；其行无欺，其言柔和而诚，其辞与本心相应者——此等之人，为一切众生所信赖，因而能渡过最艰险的苦难与危厄之途。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches integrity: actions should be free from deceit, speech should be truthful and gentle, and one’s stated meaning should match one’s real intention. Such alignment makes one trustworthy and helps one overcome severe hardships.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on ethical conduct. Here he highlights truthful, non-deceptive action and speech as practical virtues that earn universal trust and enable a person to pass through crises.