Shloka 39
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
धर्म चरत यत्नेन न चाधर्मे मन: कृथा: । वर्तध्वं च यथाकालं दैवतेषु द्विजेषु च,तुमलोग यत्नपूर्वक धर्मका आचरण करो और अधर्ममें कभी मन न लगाओ। देवताओं तथा ब्राह्मणोंकी सेवामें यथासमय तत्पर रहो
dharmaṃ carata yatnena na cādharme manaḥ kṛthāḥ | vartadhvaṃ ca yathākālaṃ daivateṣu dvijeṣu ca ||
Bhīṣma said: Practice dharma with earnest effort, and never set your mind upon adharma. At the proper times, remain devoted in service and reverence toward the gods and toward the twice-born (Brahmins).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges sustained, deliberate practice of dharma, coupled with inner vigilance: do not even incline the mind toward adharma. He also emphasizes timely, proper reverence and service to the divine and to Brahmins as pillars of righteous life.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma—lying on the bed of arrows—continues advising Yudhishthira on righteous governance and personal conduct, giving concise ethical directives about disciplined dharma and due religious/social obligations.