Shloka 6
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
लोभमोहाभिभूतस्य रागद्वेषान्वितस्य च । न धर्मे जायते बुद्धिर्व्याजादू धर्म करोति च
Bhīṣma uvāca | lobhamohābhibhūtasya rāgadveṣānvitasya ca | na dharme jāyate buddhir vyājād dharmaṃ karoti ca ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: Cuando un hombre es dominado por la codicia y el engaño, y queda atado al apego y a la aversión, su entendimiento no despierta en el dharma. Antes bien, con un pretexto u otro, practica sólo una justicia de apariencia: una exhibición externa, no una conducta ética verdadera.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Greed and delusion, reinforced by attachment and aversion, destroy moral discernment; in that state a person cannot truly commit to dharma and tends to substitute genuine righteousness with performative, pretext-driven ‘show-dharma’.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous living and inner discipline, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira, explaining how inner vices (lobha, moha, rāga, dveṣa) obstruct true dharmic understanding and lead to merely outward, self-serving displays of virtue.