Shloka 10
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
अधीत्य वेदान् कृतसर्वकृत्य: संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा | समाहित: प्रचरेद् दुश्चरं यो गार्हस्थ्यधर्म मुनिधर्मजुष्टम्
bhīṣma uvāca | adhītya vedān kṛta-sarva-kṛtyaḥ santānam utpādya sukhāni bhuktvā | samāhitaḥ pracared duścaraṃ yo gārhasthya-dharmaṃ muni-dharma-juṣṭam ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—যে ব্যক্তি বেদ অধ্যয়ন করে সকল বিধিবদ্ধ কর্তব্য সম্পন্ন করেছে, সন্তান উৎপন্ন করেছে এবং গৃহস্থধর্মের ন্যায়সঙ্গত সুখ ভোগ করেছে; তবু যে একাগ্রচিত্তে মুনিধর্ম-সমন্বিত কঠিন গার্হস্থ্যধর্ম পালন করে—সেই সত্যিই শ্রেষ্ঠ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ideal householder: one who completes Vedic learning and prescribed duties, sustains family life through legitimate enjoyments and progeny, yet remains mentally disciplined and lives with sage-like restraint. Household life is presented as spiritually weighty and difficult, but excellent when aligned with ethical self-control.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma after the war. Here he describes the standards of gārhasthya-dharma, emphasizing that a householder who fulfills scriptural obligations and family responsibilities while maintaining inner composure and ascetic virtues is worthy of high regard.