Shloka 10
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
अधीत्य वेदान् कृतसर्वकृत्य: संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा | समाहित: प्रचरेद् दुश्चरं यो गार्हस्थ्यधर्म मुनिधर्मजुष्टम्
bhīṣma uvāca | adhītya vedān kṛta-sarva-kṛtyaḥ santānam utpādya sukhāni bhuktvā | samāhitaḥ pracared duścaraṃ yo gārhasthya-dharmaṃ muni-dharma-juṣṭam ||
भीष्म ने कहा—जिसने वेदों का अध्ययन करके समस्त विहित कर्तव्यों का अनुष्ठान किया, संतान उत्पन्न की और गृहस्थ-धर्म के न्यायोचित सुखों का उपभोग किया; फिर भी जो एकाग्रचित्त होकर मुनि-धर्म से युक्त दुष्कर गार्हस्थ्य-धर्म का आचरण करता है—वही वास्तव में उत्तम है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ideal householder: one who completes Vedic learning and prescribed duties, sustains family life through legitimate enjoyments and progeny, yet remains mentally disciplined and lives with sage-like restraint. Household life is presented as spiritually weighty and difficult, but excellent when aligned with ethical self-control.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma after the war. Here he describes the standards of gārhasthya-dharma, emphasizing that a householder who fulfills scriptural obligations and family responsibilities while maintaining inner composure and ascetic virtues is worthy of high regard.