Shloka 16

Devanagari script

कृते धर्मे भवेत्‌ प्रीतिरिह प्रेत्य च शाश्वती । मोहेन हि समाविष्ट: पुत्रदारार्थमुद्यत:

Transliteration

kṛte dharme bhavet prītir iha pretya ca śāśvatī | mohena hi samāviṣṭaḥ putradārārtham udyataḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “When one acts in accordance with dharma, a lasting joy arises—here in this life and also after death. But a person, seized by delusion, becomes driven and restless, striving only for the sake of son, wife, and wealth.”

Word by Word

कृतेin (the state of) righteousness / when dharma is practiced

धर्मेin dharma

भवेत्would be / may arise

प्रीतिःjoy, satisfaction

इहhere (in this world)

प्रेत्यafter death / in the next world

चand

शाश्वतीeternal, lasting

मोहेनby delusion

हिindeed, for

समाविष्टःentered into, possessed (by)

पुत्रदारार्थम्for the sake of son and wife

उद्यतःstriving, intent (on)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Righteous action (dharma) yields enduring inner joy both in this life and beyond, whereas delusion makes one chase family- and wealth-centered aims in a way that disturbs true well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right living; here he contrasts the peace born of dharmic conduct with the agitation produced by moha-driven attachment to progeny, spouse, and material gain.