Shloka 5
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
न च तैरभ्यनुज्ञातो धर्ममन्यं समाचरेत् । यं च ते5भ्यनुजानीयु: स धर्म इति निश्चय:
na ca tair abhyanujñāto dharmam anyaṃ samācaret | yaṃ ca te 'bhyanujānīyuḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ |
Bhīṣma dit : «Sans l’assentiment de ces aînés, nul ne doit entreprendre une autre voie du devoir. Et tout acte qu’ils autorisent, cela seul doit être tenu pour dharma : telle est la conviction arrêtée des justes.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
For one who lives under the rightful guidance of elders or authoritative guardians, dharma is defined by their legitimate permission and instruction: do not pursue a separate ‘duty’ independently; what they approve is to be taken as dharma.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on principles of righteous living and social order. Here he states a rule of conduct emphasizing deference to authorized guidance—especially relevant to household and social life where duties are often determined by elders and established authority.