Shloka 42
Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī
लोकयात्राविघातश्न दानधर्मफलागमे । तदर्थ वेदशब्दाशक्ष व्यवहाराक्ष लौकिका:
lokayātrāvighātaś ca dānadharmaphalāgame | tadarthaṃ vedāḥ śabdāś ca vyavahārāś ca laukikāḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata—bila keberadaan Sang Diri (Ātman) tidak diterima, maka kelangsungan hidup duniawi akan terhalang, dan keyakinan untuk memperoleh buah sedekah serta kewajiban-kewajiban dharma lainnya pun lenyap. Sebab sabda Weda dan tata laku dunia, semuanya diarahkan bagi kesejahteraan dan pemenuhan Sang Diri.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma argues that acknowledging the Self (ātman) is necessary for ethics and religion to be meaningful: without it, society’s functioning (lokayātrā) collapses and faith in the fruits of charity and duty (dāna-dharma-phala) loses its basis; both Vedic injunctions and everyday norms ultimately aim at the Self’s welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right understanding, Bhīṣma continues his philosophical teaching, explaining why belief in the Self undergirds both scriptural authority (Vedic śabda) and ordinary social practice (laukika vyavahāra).