धर्मार्थी प्राप्तुयाद् धर्ममर्थार्थी चार्थमाप्रुयात् । कामानवाष्लुयात् कामी प्रजार्थी प्राप्तुयात् प्रजाम्ू
dharmārthī prāpnuyād dharmam arthārthī cārtham āpnuyāt | kāmān avāpnuyāt kāmī prajārthī prāpnuyāt prajām ||
Barangsiapa menghendaki dharma, ia meraih dharma; barangsiapa menghendaki kekayaan, ia meraih kekayaan. Yang menghendaki kenikmatan, meraih kenikmatan; dan yang menghendaki keturunan, meraih keturunan.
भीष्म उवाच
A person tends to obtain the result that corresponds to the aim they consciously pursue—dharma, wealth, pleasure, or progeny—so one should choose one’s goal wisely, especially prioritizing dharma as the ethically stabilizing aim.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on right conduct and life-goals, stating a general principle: seekers of different aims (dharma, artha, kāma, prajā) obtain the corresponding fruits through their directed striving.