Shloka 29
दैव–पुरुषकार-प्रश्नः
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Inquiry: Fate and Human Effort
देवानां शरणं पुण्य॑ सर्व पुण्यैरवाप्यते । पुण्यशील नर प्राप्य कि दैवं प्रकरिष्यति,देवताओंका आश्रय पुण्य ही है। पुण्यसे ही सब कुछ प्राप्त होता है। पुण्यात्मा पुरुषको पाकर दैव क्या करेगा?
devānāṁ śaraṇaṁ puṇyaṁ sarva-puṇyair avāpyate | puṇyaśīlaṁ naraṁ prāpya kiṁ daivaṁ prakariṣyati ||
Bhishma said: “For the gods, true refuge is merit (puṇya); by merit all other merits and attainments are secured. When a man of virtuous conduct is gained, what can ‘fate’ still accomplish against him?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Merit (puṇya) and virtuous character are presented as the strongest protection: they secure all auspicious outcomes and render ‘fate’ ineffective, emphasizing moral agency over fatalism.
Bhishma is instructing on dharma, asserting that even the gods rely on merit as their refuge, and that a person established in virtue is not easily overpowered by destiny.