Shloka 10

Satya–Anṛta Viveka (Discrimination between Truth and Falsehood) | सत्य–अनृत विवेकः

Devanagari script

प्रभवार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम्‌ । यः स्यात्‌ प्रभवसंयुक्त: स धर्म इति निश्चय:,प्राणियोंके अभ्युदय और कल्याणके लिये ही धर्मका प्रवचन किया गया है; अतः जो इस उद्देश्यसे युक्त हो अर्थात्‌ जिससे अभ्युदय और नि:श्रेयस सिद्ध होते हों, वही धर्म है, ऐसा शास्त्रवेत्ताओंका निश्चय है

Transliteration

prabhavārthāya bhūtānāṃ dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam | yaḥ syāt prabhavasaṃyuktaḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: The teaching of dharma has been set forth for the welfare and flourishing of living beings. Therefore, that which is connected with this purpose—what truly brings about worldly well-being and the highest good—is dharma; this is the settled conclusion of those who know the śāstras.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'prabhava', 'definition': 'arising, growth, flourishing

• here: welfare/advancement (abhyudaya)'}, {'term': 'arthāya', 'definition': 'for the sake of, for the purpose of'}, {'term': 'bhūtānām', 'definition': 'of beings, of living creatures'}, {'term': 'dharma', 'definition': 'righteous order, duty, ethical law

• that which sustains and benefits'}, {'term': 'pravacanam', 'definition': 'teaching, exposition, authoritative instruction'}, {'term': 'kṛtam', 'definition': 'has been done/made

• has been promulgated'}, {'term': 'yaḥ syāt', 'definition': 'whatever may be

• that which is'}, {'term': 'saṃyuktaḥ', 'definition': 'joined with, connected to, endowed with'}, {'term': 'niścayaḥ', 'definition': 'certainty, settled conclusion, determination'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is defined by its purpose: it is that teaching and practice which promotes the flourishing and well-being of living beings and also leads toward the highest good (niḥśreyasa).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is explaining to Yudhiṣṭhira how to recognize true dharma, grounding it in the aim of benefiting beings rather than in mere custom or label.