Shloka 5
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
न च तैरभ्यनुज्ञातो धर्ममन्यं समाचरेत् । यं च ते5भ्यनुजानीयु: स धर्म इति निश्चय:,जो उनकी आज्ञाके पालनमें संलग्न है, उसके लिये दूसरे किसी धर्मके आचरणकी आवश्यकता नहीं है। जिस कार्यके लिये वे आज्ञा दें, वही धर्म है ऐसा धर्मात्माओंका निश्चय है
na ca tair abhyanujñāto dharmam anyaṃ samācaret | yaṃ ca te 'bhyanujānīyuḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ |
Bhīṣma said: “One who is not permitted by those elders should not undertake any other course of duty. And whatever act they authorize—this alone is to be regarded as dharma; such is the settled conviction of the righteous.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
For one who lives under the rightful guidance of elders or authoritative guardians, dharma is defined by their legitimate permission and instruction: do not pursue a separate ‘duty’ independently; what they approve is to be taken as dharma.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on principles of righteous living and social order. Here he states a rule of conduct emphasizing deference to authorized guidance—especially relevant to household and social life where duties are often determined by elders and established authority.