Shloka 12
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
यतक्षायं प्रभवति प्रेत्य यत्र च गच्छति । वेदैष मार्ग स्वर्गस्य तथैव नरकस्य च
yat kṣayāyaṁ prabhavati pretya yatra ca gacchati | vedaiṣa mārgaḥ svargasya tathaiva narakasya ca ||
ビーシュマは言った。「ある存在がそこから生じ、死後そこへ赴くその原理—そして天界へ導くヴェーダの道、同じく地獄へ導く道—これらはヴェーダによって知られるべきである。この教えにおいてビーシュマは、真の卓越とはダルマを知り、それに従って生きることにあると説く。かかる知が、起源と行いと、最後の帰着とを導くからである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that the Veda is the authoritative guide to understanding a being’s origin and post-death destination, and to discerning the moral pathways that lead to heaven (svarga) or hell (naraka). Ethical living is therefore inseparable from right knowledge of dharma.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma. Here he frames the discussion in terms of ultimate outcomes—where one comes from and where one goes after death—linking these to Vedic knowledge of the paths of merit and demerit.