Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
मणिभद्र उवाच प्रीतास्ते देवता: सर्वा द्विजस्यास्य तथैव च । भविष्यत्येष धर्मात्मा धर्मे चाधास्यते मति:
maṇibhadra uvāca prītās te devatāḥ sarvā dvijasya asya tathaiva ca | bhaviṣyaty eṣa dharmātmā dharme cādhāsyate matiḥ ||
Maṇibhadra dijo: «Todos esos dioses están complacidos, y del mismo modo con este brāhmaṇa. Él llegará a ser un hombre de alma justa, y su mente quedará firmemente asentada en el dharma».
मणिभद्र उवाच
When divine and moral forces are pleased by one’s conduct, the lasting fruit is inner transformation: a person becomes dharmātmā, with the mind steadily oriented toward dharma rather than wavering with circumstance.
Maṇibhadra pronounces a favorable outcome: the deities are satisfied, and the brahmin in question will develop a righteous character, with firm resolve to live according to dharma.