Shloka 42
Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī
लोकयात्राविघातश्न दानधर्मफलागमे । तदर्थ वेदशब्दाशक्ष व्यवहाराक्ष लौकिका:
lokayātrāvighātaś ca dānadharmaphalāgame | tadarthaṃ vedāḥ śabdāś ca vyavahārāś ca laukikāḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Si l’on n’admet pas l’existence du Soi, la continuité même de la vie dans le monde serait entravée, et il n’y aurait plus de fondement pour avoir confiance dans l’obtention des fruits de la charité et des autres devoirs. Car les paroles védiques et les usages ordinaires du monde visent tous le bien et l’accomplissement du Soi.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma argues that acknowledging the Self (ātman) is necessary for ethics and religion to be meaningful: without it, society’s functioning (lokayātrā) collapses and faith in the fruits of charity and duty (dāna-dharma-phala) loses its basis; both Vedic injunctions and everyday norms ultimately aim at the Self’s welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right understanding, Bhīṣma continues his philosophical teaching, explaining why belief in the Self undergirds both scriptural authority (Vedic śabda) and ordinary social practice (laukika vyavahāra).