Shloka 21
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
स निकृष्टां कथां प्राज्ञो यदि बुद्धया बृहस्पति: । स्वभावमेष्यते तप्तं कृष्णायसमिवोदके
sa nikṛṣṭāṁ kathāṁ prājño yadi buddhyā bṛhaspatiḥ | svabhāvam eṣyate taptaṁ kṛṣṇāyasam ivodake ||
毗湿摩说道：“纵使智者，其慧如布里哈斯帕提（Bṛhaspati），若因某种缘故吐出卑下之言，也当立刻回归自身的宁静本性，正如灼热之铁投入水中便得冷定。此处的伦理要旨在于克制：言语一时失守，须即刻自我纠正，复归从容。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the wise may slip into harsh or low speech; the dharmic response is immediate restraint—returning to one’s शांत स्वभाव (calm disposition) rather than persisting in anger or impropriety.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct (especially fitting for a ruler or discerning person), he uses a simile: as red-hot iron is cooled and steadied by water, so should a person cool the mind and revert to composure after an unworthy utterance.