Shloka 51
Suvarṇa-dāna: Kārttikeya’s Origin and the Defeat of Tāraka (सुवर्णदान-प्रसङ्गे कार्त्तिकेय-उत्पत्ति तथा तारकवधः)
पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्र॑ कन्यार्थी तामवाप्लनुयात् धनार्थी लभते वित्तं धर्मार्थी धर्ममाप्तुयात्
putrārthī labhate putraṁ kanyārthī tām avāpnoti | dhanārthī labhate vittaṁ dharmārthī dharmam āpnoti ||
Yang menginginkan putra memperoleh putra; yang menginginkan putri memperoleh putri. Yang menginginkan harta memperoleh harta; dan yang menginginkan dharma mencapai dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person tends to obtain the very fruit they deliberately seek; therefore, since aims shape outcomes, one should choose dharma as the highest aim so that one’s efforts culminate in righteousness rather than merely worldly gain.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and the fruits of conduct; here he states a general principle that desired ends—son, daughter, wealth, or dharma—are attained according to one’s intention and pursuit.