Shloka 51
पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्र॑ कन्यार्थी तामवाप्लनुयात् धनार्थी लभते वित्तं धर्मार्थी धर्ममाप्तुयात्,पुत्रार्थी मनुष्य पुत्र पाता है और कन्यार्थी कन््या। धन चाहनेवालेको धन और धर्म चाहनेवालेको धर्म प्राप्त होता है
putrārthī labhate putraṁ kanyārthī tām avāpnoti | dhanārthī labhate vittaṁ dharmārthī dharmam āpnoti ||
Bhishma said: One who seeks a son obtains a son; one who seeks a daughter obtains her. One who seeks wealth gains wealth; and one who seeks dharma attains dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person tends to obtain the very fruit they deliberately seek; therefore, since aims shape outcomes, one should choose dharma as the highest aim so that one’s efforts culminate in righteousness rather than merely worldly gain.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and the fruits of conduct; here he states a general principle that desired ends—son, daughter, wealth, or dharma—are attained according to one’s intention and pursuit.