Shloka 28
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
अतिस्विष्टमधीतानां लोकानतितपस्विनाम् । अनाशनाम्न्योर्विशतां शूरा यान्ति परां गतिम्,अतिमात्रामें यज्ञ, वेदाध्ययन, तपस्या और उपवासब्रत करनेवालोंको तथा आत्मशुद्धिके लिये अग्निप्रवेश करनेवाले लोगोंको जिन लोकोंकी प्राप्ति होती है, उनसे भी उत्तम लोक ब्राह्मणके लिये प्राण देनेवाले शूरवीरोंको प्राप्त होते हैं
ati-sviṣṭam adhītānāṁ lokān ati-tapasvinām | anāśanāmnyor viśatāṁ śūrā yānti parāṁ gatim ||
Bhishma berkata: Dunia-dunia yang dicapai oleh mereka yang melaksanakan yajña dengan sangat sempurna, yang tekun dalam pendalaman Weda, para pertapa agung, dan mereka yang memasuki api melalui kaul puasa demi penyucian diri—bahkan melampaui semua itu, para pahlawan yang menyerahkan nyawa demi seorang Brahmana mencapai keadaan tertinggi.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the merit of courageous self-sacrifice undertaken to protect a Brahmin and uphold dharma surpasses even the fruits of flawless sacrifice, intense Vedic learning, severe austerity, and extreme purificatory vows. Duty-oriented sacrifice for the protection of the worthy is presented as a higher ethical achievement than purely self-directed asceticism.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is explaining hierarchies of spiritual attainment. He contrasts various renowned paths to merit—ritual excellence, Vedic study, tapas, and fasting-based purificatory practices—with the superior destination gained by heroes who lay down their lives in defense of a Brahmin.