Shloka 28
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
अतिस्विष्टमधीतानां लोकानतितपस्विनाम् । अनाशनाम्न्योर्विशतां शूरा यान्ति परां गतिम्
ati-sviṣṭam adhītānāṁ lokān ati-tapasvinām | anāśanāmnyor viśatāṁ śūrā yānti parāṁ gatim ||
Dijo Bhishma: Aun más allá de los mundos alcanzados por quienes han realizado sacrificios perfectísimos, por los entregados al profundo estudio de los Vedas, por los grandes ascetas y por quienes entran en el fuego mediante el voto de ayuno para purificarse—los héroes que entregan su vida por un brahmán alcanzan el estado supremo.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the merit of courageous self-sacrifice undertaken to protect a Brahmin and uphold dharma surpasses even the fruits of flawless sacrifice, intense Vedic learning, severe austerity, and extreme purificatory vows. Duty-oriented sacrifice for the protection of the worthy is presented as a higher ethical achievement than purely self-directed asceticism.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is explaining hierarchies of spiritual attainment. He contrasts various renowned paths to merit—ritual excellence, Vedic study, tapas, and fasting-based purificatory practices—with the superior destination gained by heroes who lay down their lives in defense of a Brahmin.