Shloka 27
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
मणिभद्र उवाच सदा धर्मफलं राज्यं सुखानि विविधानि च । फलान्येवायमश्नातु कायक्लेशविवर्जित:,मणिभद्र बोला--धर्मके फल तो सदा राज्य और नाना प्रकारके सुख ही हैं; अतः यह ब्राह्मण शारीरिक कष्टसे रहित हो केवल उन फलोंका ही उपभोग करे
Maṇibhadra uvāca: sadā dharma-phalaṁ rājyaṁ sukhāni vividhāni ca | phalāny evāyam aśnātu kāya-kleśa-vivarjitaḥ ||
Maṇibhadra berkata: “Buah dharma senantiasa berupa kedaulatan dan beraneka ragam kebahagiaan. Maka hendaklah brahmana ini, bebas dari derita jasmani, menikmati buah-buah itu saja.”
मणिभद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maṇibhadra frames dharma as yielding tangible rewards—sovereignty and diverse happiness—and advises that one who has earned such merit should enjoy its results without self-inflicted bodily suffering.
In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Maṇibhadra speaks to recommend that a brāhmaṇa (the person under discussion) should partake of the rightful fruits of his dharmic conduct, rather than embracing physical austerity or hardship.