Shloka 15
Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Ātma-saṃyama (Marks of Social Conduct and Self-Restraint) | वर्णलक्षणम् एवं आत्मसंयमः
बालो युवा च वृद्धश्व यत् करोति शुभाशुभम् | तस्यां तस्यामवस्थायां तत् फलं प्रतिपद्यते
bālo yuvā ca vṛddhaś ca yat karoti śubhāśubham | tasyāṃ tasyām avasthāyāṃ tat phalaṃ pratipadyate ||
ビーシュマは言った。「幼子であれ、若者であれ、老いた者であれ——その身がなす善悪は、まさにその生の段階において相応の果を受ける。業の道徳的な重みは年齢によって先送りされず、その果は行われた境遇のうちに人へと及ぶ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions—good or evil—bear results appropriate to the doer’s current condition; age does not exempt one from moral causality, and consequences can manifest within the same stage of life in which the deed is done.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira about karma and accountability, emphasizing that people experience the fruits of their deeds even as children, youths, or elders.