Shloka 18
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
प्रभुत्वं लभते जन्तुर्थर्मस्यैतत् फलं विदु: । सतु धर्मफलं लब्ध्वा न हृष्यति युधिष्ठिर
prabhutvaṁ labhate jantur dharmasyaitat phalaṁ viduḥ | sa tu dharmaphalaṁ labdhvā na hṛṣyati yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Un être vivant obtient la souveraineté et l’autorité : tel est, dit-on, le fruit du dharma. Pourtant, celui qui a obtenu ce fruit du dharma ne s’en enivre pas de joie, ô Yudhiṣṭhira.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma may yield power and authority, but the truly righteous person remains inwardly steady and does not become intoxicated or proud upon gaining such results.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and governance; here he explains that even when dharma produces worldly sovereignty, a dhārmika should not exult, emphasizing restraint and humility in rule.