Shloka 19
ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः
Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas
अप्रामाण्यं च वेदानां शास्त्राणां चाभिलड्घनम् । अव्यवस्था च सर्वत्र तद् वै नाशनमात्मन:,वेदको अप्रामाणिक बताना, शास्त्रोंकी आज्ञाका उललड्घन करना तथा सर्वत्र अव्यवस्था पैदा करना--ये सब दुर्गुण अपना ही नाश करनेवाले हैं
aprāmāṇyaṃ ca vedānāṃ śāstrāṇāṃ cābhilaṅghanam | avyavasthā ca sarvatra tad vai nāśanam ātmanaḥ ||
Menyatakan Veda tidak berwibawa, melanggar ketetapan śāstra, dan menebar kekacauan di mana-mana—keburukan-keburukan ini sungguh membawa kehancuran diri sendiri.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rejecting the authority of the Vedas, violating śāstric injunctions, and creating disorder are self-destructive faults; dharma depends on recognized sources of guidance and stable order.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhīṣma advises the listener (Yudhiṣṭhira) by listing behaviors that undermine moral and social foundations and lead to one’s own downfall.