Shloka 42
Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī
लोकयात्राविघातश्न दानधर्मफलागमे । तदर्थ वेदशब्दाशक्ष व्यवहाराक्ष लौकिका:,यदि आत्माकी सत्ता न मानी जाय तो लोकयात्राका निर्वाह नहीं होगा। दान और दूसरे धर्मोंके फलकी प्राप्तिके लिये कोई आस्था नहीं रहेगी; क्योंकि वैदिक शब्द और लौकिक व्यवहार सब आत्माको ही सुख देनेके लिये हैं
lokayātrāvighātaś ca dānadharmaphalāgame | tadarthaṃ vedāḥ śabdāś ca vyavahārāś ca laukikāḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: If the existence of the Self is not accepted, the very continuance of worldly life would be obstructed, and there would be no ground for confidence in attaining the fruits of charity and other duties. For the Vedic utterances and the ordinary practices of the world are all directed toward the welfare and fulfillment of the Self.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma argues that acknowledging the Self (ātman) is necessary for ethics and religion to be meaningful: without it, society’s functioning (lokayātrā) collapses and faith in the fruits of charity and duty (dāna-dharma-phala) loses its basis; both Vedic injunctions and everyday norms ultimately aim at the Self’s welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right understanding, Bhīṣma continues his philosophical teaching, explaining why belief in the Self undergirds both scriptural authority (Vedic śabda) and ordinary social practice (laukika vyavahāra).