Shloka 3
Adhyāya 159 — Dāna–Dakṣiṇā, Āpaddharma Measures, and Prāyaścitta Classifications
अत: पापमधर्मश्च यथा दुःखमनुत्तमम् | निकृत्या मूलमेतद्धि येन पापकृतो जना:
ataḥ pāpam adharmaś ca yathā duḥkham anuttamam | nikṛtyā mūlam etad dhi yena pāpakṛto janāḥ ||
Therefore, from greed arise sin and unrighteousness, and likewise unsurpassed suffering. Indeed, greed is the very root of deceit and crooked conduct; because of it, people become doers of evil.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Greed (lobha) is presented as the root cause that generates sin (pāpa), unrighteousness (adharma), deceitful behavior (nikṛti), and ultimately intense suffering (anuttama duḥkha).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma continues his ethical teaching, diagnosing greed as the underlying source of moral downfall and the suffering that follows.