Shloka 15
Drupada’s Putrakāmeṣṭi: The Sacrificial Birth of Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Kṛṣṇā
पुण्यं प्राणान् धारयति पुण्यं प्राणदमुच्यते । येन येनाचरेद् धर्म तस्मिन् गर्हा न विद्यते,“पुण्य ही प्राणोंको धारण करता है, इसलिये पुण्य प्राणदाता कहलाता है; अतः जिस- जिस उपायसे धर्मका आचरण हो सके, उसके करनेमें कोई निन्दाकी बात नहीं है
puṇyaṃ prāṇān dhārayati puṇyaṃ prāṇadam ucyate | yena yenācaret dharma tasmin garhā na vidyate ||
Verdienst (puṇya) trägt den Lebensatem selbst; darum nennt man ihn den Lebensspender. Daher gilt: Auf welche Weise man auch immer das Dharma zu üben vermag, darin liegt kein Grund zur Tadelrede.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Puṇya (meritorious, dharmic action) is portrayed as life-sustaining; therefore, when the intention is to uphold dharma and preserve life through righteous means, one should not be condemned merely for the particular method chosen—so long as it remains within the ambit of dharma.
Vaiśaṃpāyana, in his ongoing narration, states a general ethical maxim: merit sustains life, and thus any practicable way of performing dharma that leads to such merit is not blameworthy. The verse functions as a justificatory principle within the surrounding discussion of right conduct.