Shloka 7
तदनन्तर उसने वेदोक्त धर्म, शास्त्रोक्त धर्म तथा शिष्ट पुरुषोंद्वारा आचरित धर्म--इन तीन प्रकारके धर्मोंपर मन-ही-मन विचार करना आरम्भ किया-- ।। किन्नु मे स्याच्छुभं कृत्वा कि कृतं कि परायणम् । इत्येवं खिद्यते नित्यं न च याति विनिश्चयम,क्या करनेसे मेरा कल्याण होगा? मेरा क्या कर्तव्य है तथा कौन मेरे लिये परम आश्रय है?” इस प्रकार वह सदा सोचते-सोचते खिन्न हो जाता था; परंतु किसी निर्णयपर नहीं पहुँच पाता था
tadanantaraṃ sa vedokta-dharmaṃ śāstrokta-dharmaṃ tathā śiṣṭa-puruṣair ācarita-dharmaṃ—ime trayaḥ prakārā dharmāḥ—manasā vicārayitum ārabdhavān। kintu me syāc chubhaṃ kṛtvā kiṃ kṛtaṃ kiṃ parāyaṇam। ityevaṃ khidyate nityaṃ na ca yāti viniścayam॥
After that, he began to reflect inwardly on three kinds of dharma: dharma as taught in the Vedas, dharma as laid down in the treatises, and dharma as practiced by cultured and exemplary people. Yet he remained troubled, continually asking himself: “What action will bring me true good? What is my duty? And what is my highest refuge?” Thus he grew weary from constant deliberation, but could not arrive at a firm decision.
भीष्म उवाच