Shloka 66
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
अद्रोह: सर्वभूतेषु कर्मणा मनसा गिरा । अनुग्रहश्च दानं च शीलमेतत् प्रशस्यते
adrohaḥ sarvabhūteṣu karmaṇā manasā girā | anugrahaś ca dānaṃ ca śīlam etat praśasyate ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra sprach: „Keinem Lebewesen Groll entgegenbringen — weder durch Tat, noch durch Gedanken, noch durch Worte — dazu Wohlwollen zeigen und nach Kräften Almosen geben: Das nennt man śīla (gute Lebensführung), und es wird von allen gepriesen.“
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
True śīla (good character) is defined as non-malice toward all beings expressed consistently in three channels—actions, thoughts, and speech—together with compassion and charitable giving.
Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Dhṛtarāṣṭra articulates a concise ethical standard, emphasizing inner intention and outward behavior as a unified measure of virtue.