Shloka 12
यतक्षायं प्रभवति प्रेत्य यत्र च गच्छति । वेदैष मार्ग स्वर्गस्य तथैव नरकस्य च,जिससे समस्त प्रजा उत्पन्न होती है, वह यज्ञ आदि कर्म ब्राह्मणोंसे ही सम्पन्न होता है। जीव जहाँसे उत्पन्न होता है और मृत्युके पश्चात् जहाँ जाता है, उस तत्त्वको, स्वर्ग और नरकके मार्गको तथा भूत, वर्तमान और भविष्यको ब्राह्मण ही जानता है। ब्राह्मण मनुष्योंमें सबसे श्रेष्ठ है। भरतश्रेष्ठ) जो अपने धर्मको जानता है और उसका पालन करता है, वही सच्चा ब्राह्मण है
yat kṣayāyaṁ prabhavati pretya yatra ca gacchati | vedaiṣa mārgaḥ svargasya tathaiva narakasya ca ||
Bhīṣma said: “That principle from which a being arises, and to which it goes after death—along with the Vedic path that leads to heaven and likewise the path that leads to hell—this is to be known through the Veda. In this teaching, Bhīṣma underscores that true excellence lies in knowing dharma and living by it, for such knowledge guides one’s origin, conduct, and final destination.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that the Veda is the authoritative guide to understanding a being’s origin and post-death destination, and to discerning the moral pathways that lead to heaven (svarga) or hell (naraka). Ethical living is therefore inseparable from right knowledge of dharma.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma. Here he frames the discussion in terms of ultimate outcomes—where one comes from and where one goes after death—linking these to Vedic knowledge of the paths of merit and demerit.