Shloka 7
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
अक्रोध: सत्यवचनं संविभाग: क्षमा तथा । प्रजन: स्वेषु दारेषु शौचमद्रोह एव च
akrodhaḥ satyavacanaṃ saṃvibhāgaḥ kṣamā tathā | prajanaḥ sveṣu dāreṣu śaucam adroha eva ca ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Absence de colère, vérité dans la parole, partage de ses ressources et patience ; n’engendrer des enfants qu’avec son épouse légitime ; pureté au-dehors et au-dedans ; et ne nourrir de malveillance envers personne : tels sont les devoirs communs, bénéfiques à tous les ordres sociaux.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma lists universal ethical duties—non-anger, truthfulness, sharing, forgiveness, marital fidelity in procreation, purity, and non-malice—as foundational dharma applicable to all varṇas.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war, beginning with general duties common to everyone before moving on to duties specific to particular varṇas.