Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12
लोकथर्मे च धर्मे च विशेषकरणं कृतम् । यथैकत्वं पुनर्यान्ति प्राणिनस्तत्र विस्तर:
lokadharme ca dharme ca viśeṣakaraṇaṃ kṛtam | yathaikatvaṃ punaryānti prāṇinastatra vistaraḥ ||
Bhishma said: A distinction has been laid down between worldly duty and sacred duty. The reason is this: living beings, by following their respective duties, may again attain oneness; on this the scriptures speak at length.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the scriptures distinguish between social/customary duties (lokadharma) and sacred/righteous duties (dharma) not to create ultimate separation, but to guide beings through appropriate conduct toward spiritual oneness (ekatva).
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he frames why different duties are prescribed: they function as practical paths suited to people’s roles, ultimately aiming at the same spiritual end.