Shloka 26
Doṣa-Parīkṣā and Guṇa-Viveka
Examination of Faults and Discernment of the Guṇas
धर्मादुत्कृष्यते श्रेयस्तथाश्रेयोडप्यधर्मत: । रागवान् प्रकृतिं होति विरक्तो ज्ञानवान् भवेत्
dharmād utkr̥ṣyate śreyas tathāśreyo 'py adharmataḥ | rāgavān prakr̥tiṁ hoti virakto jñānavān bhavet ||
Bhishma bersabda: Dari dharma, kebaikan sejati terangkat; dari adharma, bahkan kesejahteraan berubah menjadi celaka. Orang yang dikuasai keterikatan jatuh ke dalam kuasa Prakriti, sedangkan yang lepas dari keterikatan menjadi berpengetahuan dan melangkah menuju pembebasan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma increases śreyas (the higher good), while adharma produces aśreyas (harm). Attachment (rāga) binds one to prakṛti and its compulsions; detachment (virāga) supports true knowledge (jñāna), which leads toward freedom.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on right conduct and inner discipline after the war. Here he contrasts the outcomes of dharma versus adharma and links ethical life with the psychological-spiritual shift from attachment to knowledge and liberation.