Shloka 153
धर्म्यविजय-नियमाः
Rules for Dharmic Victory in Kṣatriya Engagement
आत्मानमात्मना हन्ति पापो निकृतिजीवन: । सज्जनोंका धर्म सदा सत्पुरुषोंमें ही रहा है। अतः उसका आश्रय लेकर उसे नष्ट न करे। धर्मयुद्धमें तत्पर हुआ जो क्षत्रिय अधर्मसे विजय पाता है, छल-कपटको जीविकाका साधन बनानेवाला वह पापी स्वयं ही अपना नाश करता है
ātmānam ātmanā hanti pāpo nikṛtijīvanaḥ |
Bhīṣma berkata: Orang berdosa yang menjadikan tipu daya sebagai mata pencaharian, menghancurkan dirinya oleh dirinya sendiri. Dharma bersemayam pada orang baik dan para mulia; maka berlindunglah padanya dan jangan merusaknya. Bahkan dalam perang, seorang kṣatriya yang mengejar kemenangan melalui adharma—dengan penipuan dan kelicikan—pada akhirnya menjerumuskan dirinya sendiri.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That deceit as a way of life is ultimately self-destructive: a person who pursues victory or gain through adharma undermines his own welfare. Dharma is sustained among the good, so one should rely on it rather than damage it for short-term success.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on kingship and dharma after the war. Here he warns that even in the context of warfare, a kṣatriya must not seek victory through fraud; such conduct rebounds upon the doer and leads to ruin.