Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
दमस्य तु फलं राजन् शृणु त्वं विस्तरेण मे । दान्ता: सर्वत्र सुखिनो दान्ता: सर्वत्र निर्वुता:
damasya tu phalaṁ rājan śṛṇu tvaṁ vistareṇa me | dāntāḥ sarvatra sukhino dāntāḥ sarvatra nirvṛtāḥ ||
भीष्म ने कहा—राजन्, अब तुम मुझसे दम अर्थात् इन्द्रियसंयम का फल विस्तारपूर्वक सुनो। जितेन्द्रिय पुरुष सर्वत्र सुखी रहते हैं; संयमी जन हर अवस्था में शान्त और संतुष्ट रहते हैं।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dama—discipline and restraint of the senses—yields a stable happiness and contentment that does not depend on external conditions; the self-controlled person remains peaceful everywhere.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma addresses King Yudhiṣṭhira and begins explaining, in detail, the benefits (phala) of self-restraint as part of dharma-guidance for righteous rule and personal conduct.