Shloka 40
धर्मार्थकामा: सममेव सेव्या यो होकभक्त: स नरो जघन्य: । तयोस्तु दाक्ष्यं प्रवदन्ति मध्य॑ स उत्तमो यो5भिरतस्त्रिवर्गे,मेरे विचारसे धर्म, अर्थ और काम तीनोंका एक साथ ही सेवन करना चाहिये। जो इनमेंसे एकका ही भक्त है, वह मनुष्य अधम है, जो दोके सेवनमें निपुण है, उसे मध्यम श्रेणीका बताया गया है और जो त्रिवर्गमें समानरूपसे अनुरक्त है, वह मनुष्य उत्तम है
dharmārthakāmāḥ samam eva sevyā yo hy ekabhaktaḥ sa naro jaghanyaḥ | tayos tu dākṣyaṁ pravadanti madhyaḥ sa uttamo yo 'bhiratas trivarge ||
“Dharma, artha, and kāma should be pursued together in due balance. A man devoted to only one of these is deemed the lowest; one skilled in pursuing two is called middling; but he who is equally engaged in all three aims of life is regarded as the best.”
भीमयेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Human excellence lies in a balanced pursuit of the three aims—dharma (right conduct), artha (material well-being), and kāma (legitimate enjoyment). Exclusive fixation on only one aim is criticized as inferior; competence in two is middling; equal engagement with all three is praised as best.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Bhīma articulates a practical ethical standard for living after the war: rather than extreme renunciation or single-goal obsession, one should integrate duty, prosperity, and desire in proper proportion.