दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्र च दम: परम् | विपाप्मा तेजसा युक्त: पुरुषो विन्दते महत्,दम तेजकी वृद्धि करता है, दम परम पवित्र साधन है, दमसे पापरहित हुआ तेजस्वी पुरुष परमपदको प्राप्त कर लेता है
damaḥ tejo vardhayati pavitraś ca damaḥ param | vipāpmā tejasā yuktaḥ puruṣo vindate mahat ||
يعلّم بهيشما أن ضبط النفس (dama) يزيد التِّيجَس (tejas) — الإشراق الباطني والقوة الروحية. وهو رياضةٌ مطهِّرة على أسمى وجه: فإذا تحرّر المرء من الخطيئة بالكفّ، واقترن بوهجٍ روحيّ، بلغ الخير الأعلى—العظمة والحالة القصوى.
भीष्म उवाच
Self-restraint (dama) is presented as a supreme purifier that strengthens tejas (inner moral-spiritual power). Through restraint one becomes free from sin, and such a purified, vigorous person attains the highest good.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on ethical and spiritual disciplines. Here he highlights dama as a foundational practice that purifies conduct and leads to the highest attainment.