Shloka 33
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
मैत्रा: क्रूराणि कुर्वन्तो जयन्ति स्वर्गमुत्तमम् । धर्म्या: पापानि कुर्वाणा गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम्
maitrāḥ krūrāṇi kurvanto jayanti svargam uttamam | dharmyāḥ pāpāni kurvāṇā gacchanti paramāṃ gatim ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: Quienes son amistosos con todos los seres—aunque deban obrar con dureza contra un malvado para proteger a los demás—conquistan el cielo más excelso. Del mismo modo, los hombres rectos, aun cometiendo actos que parecen pecaminosos (como la violencia) por salvaguardar a otros, alcanzan la meta suprema.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral evaluation depends on intention and purpose: a person grounded in friendliness and righteousness may employ harsh or even seemingly sinful means when the aim is protection of others; such protective action, not motivated by hatred or selfishness, can still lead to the highest good.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he explains a nuanced principle for rulers and righteous people: maintaining benevolence toward all, one may still punish or use force against the wicked to defend the vulnerable, without losing spiritual merit.