Shloka 124
धर्मार्थी प्राप्तुयाद् धर्ममर्थार्थी चार्थमाप्रुयात् । कामानवाष्लुयात् कामी प्रजार्थी प्राप्तुयात् प्रजाम्ू
dharmārthī prāpnuyād dharmam arthārthī cārtham āpnuyāt | kāmān avāpnuyāt kāmī prajārthī prāpnuyāt prajām ||
Bhīṣma dit : Celui qui recherche le dharma obtient le dharma ; celui qui recherche la richesse obtient la richesse. Celui qui recherche les plaisirs obtient les plaisirs ; et celui qui recherche une descendance obtient une descendance. Cet enseignement souligne que le but choisi et l’effort persévérant façonnent le fruit que l’on reçoit ; aussi faut-il orienter délibérément son plus haut dessein vers ce qui est véritablement digne.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person tends to obtain the result that corresponds to the aim they consciously pursue—dharma, wealth, pleasure, or progeny—so one should choose one’s goal wisely, especially prioritizing dharma as the ethically stabilizing aim.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on right conduct and life-goals, stating a general principle: seekers of different aims (dharma, artha, kāma, prajā) obtain the corresponding fruits through their directed striving.