Shloka 15
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
धर्म प्राप्य न्यायवृत्ति न बलीयान् न विन्दति । यस्माद् बलस्योपपत्तिरेकान्तेन न विद्यते
dharmaṁ prāpya nyāyavṛttiṁ na balīyān na vindati | yasmād balasyopapattir ekāntena na vidyate ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Aun alcanzando el dharma, una persona débil no obtiene necesariamente un sustento plenamente conforme a la justicia. Pues la adquisición de fuerza no está garantizada de modo absoluto sólo por practicar el dharma. Por eso, en tiempos de aflicción, una conducta que normalmente sería adharma a veces se nombra “dharma” como concesión de emergencia. Sin embargo, los sabios sostienen que, incluso en la calamidad, actuar contra el dharma sigue siendo adharma.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma does not mechanically guarantee worldly power or a secure, fully just livelihood; hence emergencies tempt people to justify questionable acts as ‘necessary.’ Still, Bhīṣma underscores that violating dharma remains adharma even when done under pressure—ethical labels should not be diluted by convenience.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and moral conduct, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about the tension between ideal righteousness and harsh realities. He explains why people invoke ‘emergency dharma’ in crises, while also warning that wise judgment recognizes the moral cost of actions taken against dharma.