Shloka 36
त्रिवर्गविचारः
Tri-varga Deliberation: Dharma, Artha, Kāma
दान्तस्य किमरण्येन तथा5दान्तस्थ भारत । यत्रैव निवसेद् दान्तस्तदरण्यं स चाश्रम:
dāntasya kim araṇyena tathā adāntasya bhārata | yatraiva nivased dāntas tad araṇyaṃ sa cāśramaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh Bhārata, ¿qué necesidad tiene de la selva quien se domina a sí mismo? Y, del mismo modo, ¿qué provecho hay en la selva para quien no se domina? Dondequiera que habite el hombre disciplinado, allí mismo está su bosque, y allí mismo su ermita (āśrama).»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
External renunciation (living in a forest) has value only when grounded in inner restraint. True ‘forest’ and ‘hermitage’ are defined by self-control; without it, changing location or lifestyle brings little spiritual benefit.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīṣma emphasizes ethical cultivation after the war, teaching that discipline and mastery of the senses are more essential than outward marks of ascetic life.