Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 13
Yajña-bhāga-vyavasthā and the Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti Framework (यज्ञभागव्यवस्था तथा प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिधर्मविवेचनम्)
अपश्यद् भगवान् विष्णु: क्षिप्तं सासुरराक्षसम् । किं त्वत्र सुकृतं कार्य भवेदिति विचिन्तयन्
apāśyad bhagavān viṣṇuḥ kṣiptaṃ sāsura-rākṣasam | kiṃ tv atra sukṛtaṃ kāryaṃ bhaved iti vicintayan ||
तब भगवान् विष्णु ने देखा कि असुरों और राक्षसों सहित समस्त जगत् आक्षेप से व्याकुल हो उठा है। वे विचार करने लगे—“यहाँ कौन-सा कार्य सुकृत और हितकर होगा?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a moment of collective fear and disorder, the ideal response is not impulsive force but dharmic deliberation—seeking the action that is truly ‘sukṛta’ (well-done, beneficial, and right) for the welfare of all.
Bhishma narrates that Vishnu perceives the world, including asuras and rakshasas, to be in a disturbed state, and he pauses to consider what action would be best and most righteous in that situation.