Shloka 18
प्रवर्तनं शुभानां च तत् सतां वृत्तमुच्यते । ततो धर्म: प्रभवति य: प्रजा: पाति शाश्वती:,दान, व्रत, ब्रह्मचर्य, शास्त्रोक्त रीतिसे वेदाध्ययन, इन्द्रियनिग्रह, शान्ति, समस्त प्राणियोंपर दया, चित्तका संयम, कोमलता, दूसरोंके धन लेनेकी इच्छाका त्याग, संसारके प्राणियोंका मनसे भी अहित न करना, माता-पिताकी सेवा, देवता, अतिथि और गुरुओंकी पूजा, दया, पवित्रता, इन्द्रियोंको सदा काबूमें रखना तथा शुभ कर्मोंका प्रचार करना--यह सब श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंका बर्ताव कहलाता है। इनके अनुष्ठानसे धर्म होता है, जो सदा प्रजावर्गकी रक्षा करता है इति श्रीमहा भारते आश्वमेधिके पर्वणि अनुगीतापर्वणि अष्टादशोडध्याय:
pravartanaṃ śubhānāṃ ca tat satāṃ vṛttam ucyate | tato dharmaḥ prabhavati yaḥ prajāḥ pāti śāśvatīḥ ||
The promotion and active encouragement of what is good—this is said to be the conduct of the virtuous. From such conduct arises dharma, the enduring principle that continually protects and sustains living beings and society. In this context, the Brahmin explains that dharma is generated and strengthened by disciplined, compassionate, and scripturally guided living—such as generosity, vows, celibate self-restraint, study of the Veda, control of the senses, inner peace, kindness to all creatures, purity, service to parents, and reverence toward gods, guests, and teachers—together forming the exemplary way of the noble.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely a doctrine but something that arises from the lived conduct of the virtuous—actively promoting good, practicing self-restraint, compassion, purity, and reverence. Such conduct generates an enduring dharma that protects and sustains society and all beings.
Within the Anugītā section of the Aśvamedhika Parva, a Brahmin speaker is instructing about the marks of noble behavior (satāṃ vṛtta) and explaining how these practices become the source of dharma, which in turn safeguards the community (prajā).