Shloka 7
अक्रोध: सत्यवचनं संविभाग: क्षमा तथा । प्रजन: स्वेषु दारेषु शौचमद्रोह एव च,किसीपर क्रोध न करना, सत्य बोलना, धनको बाँटकर भोगना, क्षमाभाव रखना, अपनी ही पत्नीके गर्भसे संतान पैदा करना, बाहर-भीतरसे पवित्र रहना, किसीसे द्रोह न करना, सरलभाव रखना और भरण-पोषण के योग्य व्यक्तियोंका पालन करना--ये नौ सभी वर्णोंके लिये उपयोगी धर्म हैं। अब मैं केवल ब्राह्णका जो धर्म है, उसे बता रहा हूँ
akrodhaḥ satyavacanaṃ saṃvibhāgaḥ kṣamā tathā | prajanaḥ sveṣu dāreṣu śaucam adroha eva ca ||
Bhishma said: “Freedom from anger, truthfulness in speech, sharing one’s resources, and forbearance; begetting children only with one’s own lawful wife; purity outwardly and inwardly; and never bearing malice toward anyone—these are the (common) duties beneficial for all social orders.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma lists universal ethical duties—non-anger, truthfulness, sharing, forgiveness, marital fidelity in procreation, purity, and non-malice—as foundational dharma applicable to all varṇas.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war, beginning with general duties common to everyone before moving on to duties specific to particular varṇas.