Shloka 15
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
धर्म प्राप्य न्यायवृत्ति न बलीयान् न विन्दति । यस्माद् बलस्योपपत्तिरेकान्तेन न विद्यते
dharmaṁ prāpya nyāyavṛttiṁ na balīyān na vindati | yasmād balasyopapattir ekāntena na vidyate ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Selbst wenn er den Dharma erlangt, gewinnt ein schwacher Mensch nicht notwendig einen Lebensunterhalt, der ganz der Gerechtigkeit entspricht. Denn die Erlangung von Stärke ist nicht in jedem Fall allein durch die Ausübung des Dharma garantiert. Darum wird in Zeiten der Not ein Verhalten, das gewöhnlich Adharma wäre, bisweilen als ‘Dharma’ bezeichnet — als Noterlaubnis. Doch die Weisen halten daran fest: Auch im Unglück bleibt Handeln gegen den Dharma Adharma.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma does not mechanically guarantee worldly power or a secure, fully just livelihood; hence emergencies tempt people to justify questionable acts as ‘necessary.’ Still, Bhīṣma underscores that violating dharma remains adharma even when done under pressure—ethical labels should not be diluted by convenience.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and moral conduct, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about the tension between ideal righteousness and harsh realities. He explains why people invoke ‘emergency dharma’ in crises, while also warning that wise judgment recognizes the moral cost of actions taken against dharma.