Shloka 9
Tapas, Tīrtha, and Moral Rehabilitation (Śānti-parva 148)
तस्माद् धर्म चरिष्यामि धर्मो हि परमा गति: । दृष्टो धर्मो हि धर्मिछे यादृशो विहगोत्तमे
tasmād dharma cariṣyāmi dharmo hi paramā gatiḥ | dṛṣṭo dharmo hi dharmiṣṭhe yādṛśo vihagottame ||
Therefore I shall practice dharma; for dharma alone is the highest refuge and final goal. The very form of righteousness that has been witnessed in that most righteous, best of birds is the kind of dharma I too desire to follow—having seen before me the shining ideal of hospitality upheld even at the cost of one’s own body.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is presented as the highest goal, and true righteousness is measured by conduct—especially the unwavering protection and honoring of a guest (atithi), even when it demands personal sacrifice.
Bhishma, while instructing on dharma, refers to an exemplary incident involving a ‘best of birds’ (a pigeon) whose conduct embodied perfect righteousness through hospitality and self-offering; inspired by that model, he resolves to follow dharma in the same spirit.