Shloka 28
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
अतिस्विष्टमधीतानां लोकानतितपस्विनाम् । अनाशनाम्न्योर्विशतां शूरा यान्ति परां गतिम्
ati-sviṣṭam adhītānāṁ lokān ati-tapasvinām | anāśanāmnyor viśatāṁ śūrā yānti parāṁ gatim ||
Bhishma sprach: Selbst jenseits der Welten, die jene erlangen, die überaus vollkommene Opfer vollzogen haben, die sich dem tiefen Studium der Veden widmen, die großen Asketen und jene, die zur Selbstläuterung durch das Fastengelübde ins Feuer treten—gelangen die Helden, die ihr Leben für einen Brahmanen hingeben, in den höchsten Zustand.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the merit of courageous self-sacrifice undertaken to protect a Brahmin and uphold dharma surpasses even the fruits of flawless sacrifice, intense Vedic learning, severe austerity, and extreme purificatory vows. Duty-oriented sacrifice for the protection of the worthy is presented as a higher ethical achievement than purely self-directed asceticism.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is explaining hierarchies of spiritual attainment. He contrasts various renowned paths to merit—ritual excellence, Vedic study, tapas, and fasting-based purificatory practices—with the superior destination gained by heroes who lay down their lives in defense of a Brahmin.