Shloka 136

उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः

Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting

Devanagari script

धर्म हि श्रेय इत्याहुरिति धर्मविदो जना: । बड़ा भाई अच्छा काम करनेवाला हो या बुरा

Transliteration

dharma hi śreya ity āhur iti dharmavido janāḥ |

Translation

Bhishma dit : «Ceux qui connaissent le dharma déclarent : “Le dharma lui-même est le bien suprême.” Ainsi, que le frère aîné agisse bien ou mal, le cadet ne doit pas l’insulter. De même, si l’épouse ou le frère cadet s’est égaré sur une voie fautive, l’homme supérieur doit adopter tout moyen qui les mène réellement au bien et à l’amendement, car le dharma est enseigné comme l’instrument premier du salut et du bien-être.»

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'dharma', 'definition': 'righteous duty

• conduct that sustains social and spiritual well-being'}, {'term': 'hi', 'definition': 'indeed

• certainly (emphatic particle)'}, {'term': 'śreyas (śreyaḥ)', 'definition': 'the highest good

• what is ultimately beneficial'}, {'term': 'iti', 'definition': 'thus

• so (quotative particle)'}, {'term': 'āhuḥ', 'definition': 'they say

• they declare (3rd person plural perfect of √ah)'}, {'term': 'dharmavidaḥ', 'definition': 'knowers of dharma

• those learned in righteous conduct'}, {'term': 'janāḥ', 'definition': 'people

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is presented as the supreme means to welfare (śreyas). From this follows an ethic of restraint and responsibility within the family: do not dishonor elders, and when dependents or juniors go astray, guide them by whatever effective, welfare-producing means aligns with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on righteous conduct. Here he summarizes the authority of dharma-teachers—“dharma is the highest good”—and applies it to household relationships, emphasizing respect and corrective guidance rather than contempt.