Shloka 6
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 158 — Aṅgāraparṇa-saṃvāda and Gaṅgā-tīrtha Saṃghaṭṭa
Encounter at the Gaṅgā ford
एष चैव गुरुर्धर्मो यं प्रवक्ष्याम्पहं तव । अर्थश्न तव धर्मश्न भूयानत्र प्रदृश्यते,यह सबसे बड़ा धर्म है, जो मैं आपसे बता रही हूँ। इसमें आपके लिये अधिक-से- अधिक स्वार्थ और धर्मका लाभ दिखायी देता है
eṣa caiva gurur dharmo yaṁ pravakṣyāmy ahaṁ tava | arthaś ca tava dharmaś ca bhūyān atra pradṛśyate ||
“This indeed is the highest, guiding principle of dharma, which I shall now declare to you. In this course of action, for you, both practical benefit (artha) and righteousness (dharma) are seen to arise in greater measure.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The speaker frames an upcoming instruction as the most authoritative form of dharma, emphasizing that the recommended path harmonizes moral rightness (dharma) with practical benefit (artha), rather than setting them in conflict.
A brāhmaṇa speaker addresses the listener directly, announcing that they will now explain a paramount rule of conduct and assuring the listener that, in this matter, both ethical and pragmatic gains will be clearly evident.