Shloka 19
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
अपि तु वां मृदुप्रज्ञमत्यार्यमतिधार्मिकम् । क्लीबं धर्मघृणायुक्तं न लोको बहु मन्यते
api tu vāṃ mṛdu-prajñam ati-āryam ati-dhārmikam | klībaṃ dharma-ghṛṇā-yuktaṃ na loko bahu manyate ||
毗湿摩说道：纵然你的见识极其温柔，你又至为高贵、深深归依正法——纵然你对法怀有强烈的怜悯与柔情——世人也不会多加敬重你；他们会把你当作懦夫。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights a tension between inner virtue and public judgment: gentleness, nobility, and compassionate scruple toward dharma may still be misread by society as weakness. Ethical intention does not automatically secure social honor; one must also consider how conduct appears within one’s role and context.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the listener on conduct and statecraft after the war. Here he addresses someone whose mild, dharma-sensitive disposition leads to reluctance in harsh action; Bhīṣma warns that the world may interpret such restraint as cowardice and therefore withhold respect.