Shloka 19
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
सर्वभूतेष्वनुक्रोशं कुर्वतस्तस्य भारत । आनुृशंस्यप्रवृत्तस्य सर्वावस्थं पदं भवेत्,भरतनन्दन! जो समस्त प्राणियोंपर दया करता है और क्रूरतारहित कर्मामें ही प्रवृत्त होता है, उसे सभी आश्रमोंके सेवनका फल प्राप्त होता है
sarvabhūteṣv anukrośaṃ kurvatas tasya bhārata | ānṛśaṃsya-pravṛttasya sarvāvasthaṃ padaṃ bhavet ||
Bhīṣma bersabda—Wahai Bhārata, siapa yang menaruh belas kasih kepada semua makhluk dan tekun dalam perbuatan yang bebas dari kekejaman, baginya timbul suatu pencapaian rohani yang sah dalam segala keadaan—setara dengan buah menjalankan semua āśrama.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Universal compassion and a commitment to non-cruel conduct are presented as a dharmic essence so powerful that they yield the same spiritual merit as fulfilling the duties of all four āśramas; ethical disposition is treated as the unifying heart of dharma.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war; here he emphasizes that kindness to all beings and freedom from cruelty constitute a universally valid path, not limited by one’s life-stage or social condition.