Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra
मानसं सर्वभूतानां धर्ममाहुर्मनीषिण: । तस्मात् सर्वेषु भूतेषु मनसा शिवमाचरेत्
mānasaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ dharmam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ | tasmāt sarveṣu bhūteṣu manasā śivam ācaret ||
ভীষ্মে ক’লে—মনীষীসকলে কয় যে সকলো প্ৰাণীৰ বাবে মনেদ্বাৰা কৰা ধৰ্মেই শ্ৰেষ্ঠ। সেয়ে সকলো জীৱৰ প্ৰতি মনত শুভ ভাব আচৰণ কৰা—তেওঁলোকৰ মঙ্গল কামনা কৰা।
भीष्म उवाच
True dharma begins internally: the mind should be trained to hold goodwill toward all beings. Even before speech or action, benevolent intention (śiva) directed to everyone is presented as a superior, foundational form of righteousness.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and right conduct after the war. Here he emphasizes inner ethics—cultivating universal goodwill in thought—as a key element of righteous living.