Shloka 3
अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः
Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness
नादान्तस्य क्रियासिद्धिर्यथावदुपपद्यते । क्रिया तपश्च सत्यं च दमे सर्व प्रतिष्ठितम्,जिसने दमका पालन नहीं किया है, उसे अपने कर्मोमें यथोचित सफलता नहीं मिलती; क्योंकि क्रिया, तप और सत्य--ये सभी दमके आधारपर ही प्रतिष्ठित होते हैं
nā dāntasya kriyā-siddhir yathāvad upapadyate | kriyā tapaś ca satyaṃ ca dame sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Bagi orang yang tidak memiliki dama (pengendalian diri), keberhasilan tindakan tidak terwujud sebagaimana mestinya. Sebab tindakan, tapa, dan kebenaran—semuanya tegak hanya di atas landasan pengendalian diri.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Self-control (dama) is presented as the indispensable foundation for ethical life: without restraint, one cannot properly succeed in action, and even austerity and truthfulness lack stability.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising on right conduct, emphasizing that disciplined restraint is the basis that makes duty, ascetic practice, and truth effective and reliable.