Shloka 82
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
दोषाणां च गुणानां च प्रमाणं प्रविभागत: । कंचिदर्थमभिप्रेत्य सा संख्येत्युपधार्यताम्
doṣāṇāṃ ca guṇānāṃ ca pramāṇaṃ pravibhāgataḥ | kaṃcid artham abhipretya sā saṃkhyety upadhāryatām ||
Let the proper measure of faults and virtues be determined through careful classification. Keeping an intended purpose in view, let that assessment be made by counting and then firmly understood.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that moral evaluation should not be vague or impulsive: one should distinguish virtues and faults by clear criteria, classify them, and assess them proportionately with a definite purpose in view.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on dharma and right conduct, emphasizing a methodical way to judge actions and qualities—by differentiating, measuring, and weighing merits and defects toward an intended ethical end.