Shloka 19
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
लोकयात्रामिहैके तु धर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिण: । समुद्दिष्टं सतां धर्म स््वयमूहेत पण्डित:
lokayātrām ihaike tu dharma prāhur manīṣiṇaḥ | samuddiṣṭaṃ satāṃ dharmaḥ svayam ūhet paṇḍitaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「この世では、社会の営みを支える慣習そのものを『ダルマ』だと説く思慮深い者もいる。だが真に学識ある者は、自ら省察し、善き人々が示し教える—シャーストラに根ざした—ダルマを確定すべきであって、ただ世間のならわしのみに頼ってはならぬ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not to be equated blindly with whatever society happens to practice. A discerning, learned person should reflect and determine true dharma as indicated by the virtuous and grounded in śāstric guidance, using reasoned inquiry (ūha).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises Yudhiṣṭhira that while some define dharma as mere social convention (lokayātrā), the wise must critically examine and settle what is genuinely righteous according to the standards of the good and the prescriptions of the śāstras.