Shloka 28
Śulka, Kanyā, and Dauhitra-Riktha: Discourse on Bride-Price and Inheritance Rights (शुल्क-कन्या-दौहित्र-रिक्थविचारः)
एतत् श्र॒त्वा तु विपुलो नापश्यद् धर्मसंकरम् । जन्मप्रभृति कौरव्य कृतपूर्वमथात्मन:
etat śrutvā tu vipulo nāpaśyad dharma-saṅkaram | janma-prabhṛti kauravya kṛta-pūrvam athātmanaḥ ||
भीष्म बोले—हे कौरववंश-शिरोमणि! यह सुनकर विपुल ने जन्म से लेकर अब तक अपने किए हुए कर्मों का विचार किया; परंतु अपने भीतर उसे कहीं भी धर्म का संकर—अर्थात् धर्म में पाप का मिश्रण—दिखाई न दिया।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical self-audit: one should examine one’s life and actions to see whether apparent righteousness is tainted by wrongdoing. True dharma is not merely outward conformity but inner clarity free from ‘dharma-saṅkara’ (moral mixing/confusion).
After hearing a statement or instruction, Vipula reflects on his entire past conduct from birth. He searches for any instance where his actions involved a compromised or mixed dharma, but he finds no such moral blemish in himself.