Shloka 4
अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः
Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness
दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्र दम उच्यते । विपाप्मा निर्भयो दान्त: पुरुषो विन्दते महत्
damaḥ tejo vardhayati pavitraḥ dama ucyate | vipāpmā nirbhayo dāntaḥ puruṣo vindate mahat ||
भीष्म बोले— “दम तेज को बढ़ाता है; इसलिए दम को परम पवित्र कहा गया है। जो मन-इन्द्रियों को वश में कर लेता है, वह पाप और भय से रहित होकर ‘महत्’ पद—महान् आध्यात्मिक अवस्था—को प्राप्त करता है।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dama (self-restraint over mind and senses) is intrinsically purifying and strengthens tejas (inner radiance/energy), leading to freedom from sin and fear and culminating in attainment of a ‘great’ spiritual state.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising on virtues; here he highlights self-restraint as a foundational discipline that purifies and elevates a person.