Shloka 47
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
प्रवृत्तिलक्षणो धर्म: प्रजार्थिभिरुदाह्ृत: । यथोक्तं राजशार्दूल न तु तन्मोक्षकाड्क्षिणाम्
pravṛttilakṣaṇo dharmaḥ prajārthibhir udāhṛtaḥ | yathoktaṁ rājaśārdūla na tu tan mokṣakāṅkṣiṇām, nṛpaśreṣṭha |
Wahai harimau di antara raja-raja, wahai penguasa terbaik! Dharma yang berciri keterlibatan dunia (pravṛtti) diajarkan oleh mereka yang mendambakan keturunan dan kelangsungan tatanan sosial; sebagaimana telah kukatakan—namun jalan itu bukan pilihan bagi para pencari mokṣa yang telah berlepas dari nafsu dunia.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes two orientations of dharma: pravṛtti-dharma (engaged, society-sustaining duties such as family, lineage, and social order) and the aspiration for mokṣa (liberation), for which a more detached, renunciant orientation is appropriate. The same ‘dharma’ is not equally fitting for all aims.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing King Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he clarifies that teachings meant for householders and those seeking progeny/social continuity are not the preferred path for those whose primary goal is liberation.