Shloka 72
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
धर्मश्चनार्थश्व॒ कामश्न मोक्षश्षात्रानुवर्णिता: | उपायाश्चार्थलिप्सा च विविधा भूरिदक्षिण,प्रचुर दक्षिणा देनेवाले युधिष्ठिर! इस ग्रन्थमें धर्म, अर्थ, काम और मोक्षका, इनकी प्राप्तिके उपायोंका तथा नाना प्रकारकी धन-लिप्साका भी वर्णन है
dharmaś cānārthaś ca kāmaś ca mokṣaś cātra anūvarṇitāḥ | upāyāś cārthalipsā ca vividhā bhūridakṣiṇa ||
ビーシュマは言った。「この論書には、ダルマとアルタ、さらにカーマとモークシャが説き明かされている。加えて、それらを得るための方途、そして財への渇望が示すさまざまな姿も述べられている。豊かな施与で名高いユディシュティラよ、これらは正しい生と賢明な統治の導きとしてここに記されたのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames the instruction as comprehensive: it covers the four puruṣārthas—dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa—along with the practical means to pursue them, while also warning that the pursuit of artha can slide into artha-lipsā (greed). The ethical point is to seek prosperity and pleasure under the governance of dharma, without being mastered by craving.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira after the war, offering guidance on righteous rule and right living. Here he signals that the discourse/text includes teachings on all major human aims and the methods to attain them, addressing Yudhiṣṭhira as 'bhūri-dakṣiṇa' (generous giver) to connect the lesson to royal responsibility and charity.