Shloka 4
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । यथा मृत्युर्गहस्थेन धर्ममाश्रित्य निर्जित:
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | yathā mṛtyur gṛhasthena dharmam āśritya nirjitaḥ |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Raja, dalam hal ini pun dikisahkan sebuah teladan dari sejarah purba—bagaimana seorang kepala rumah tangga, dengan berlindung pada dharma, menaklukkan Maut.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma, when sincerely relied upon and practiced, is presented as a power that can overcome even the fear and inevitability of death—at least in the sense of moral victory and spiritual mastery.
Bhishma introduces an old illustrative story (itihāsa) to support his instruction: he will recount how a certain householder, by taking refuge in dharma, achieved victory over Death.