Shloka 9
मोक्षधर्मः — स्नेहपाशच्छेदः
Mokṣa-dharma: Cutting the Bonds of Attachment
कोई अपने ऊपर धूल या कीचड़ फेंके तो मुमुक्षु पुरुष उससे आत्मरक्षामात्र करे। बदलेमें स्वयं भी वैसा ही न करे और न मुहसे कोई अप्रिय वचन ही निकाले। सर्वदा मृदुताका बर्ताव करे। किसीके प्रति कठोरता न करे। निश्चिन्त रहे और बहुत बढ़-बढ़कर बातें न बनाये ।।
dhūlaṁ vā paṅkaṁ vā yadi kaścid ātmany āvākiraty, mumukṣuḥ puruṣas tasmād ātmarakṣāmātraṁ kuryāt; pratyupakāreṇa svayaṁ tathā na kuryān na ca mukhāt kaścid apriyaṁ vacanaṁ niṣkārayet. sarvadā mṛdutayā vyavaharet; na kasyacit prati kāṭhinyam ācaret. niścintaḥ syāt, na ca bahu vardhayitvā vākyaṁ racayet. vidhūme nyastamusale vyapāre bhuktavajjane, atītapātrasañcāre bhikṣāṁ lipsed vai muniḥ.
毗湿摩说：若有人将尘土或泥污掷向你，求解脱者只当自护其身而已；不可同样报复，也不可让粗厉不悦之言从口中逸出。应恒常以柔和为行，不对任何人强硬，心无扰动，并避免夸饰与冗长之谈。又求乞的牟尼，应在一家烹饪与用餐皆已毕时方可前往求取钵食：当炊烟已止，捣谷与香料所用之杵已放下，灶火已冷，家人已食毕，盛器往来亦已停息之时。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches non-retaliation and disciplined speech for a seeker of liberation: protect yourself if harmed, but do not repay harm with harm or harsh words; remain gentle, unagitated, and avoid inflated talk. It also prescribes considerate mendicancy—seeking alms only after the household’s cooking and eating are complete, minimizing disturbance and temptation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on the conduct of a mumukshu/ascetic. He outlines both inner discipline (patience, gentleness, restraint of speech) and an external rule of practice (the proper time to go for bhiksha, after the household has finished its meal and kitchen activity has ceased).