Shloka 16
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
श्रेष्ठ आश्रम गार्हस्थ्यमें निवास करनेवाले द्विजोंके लिये महर्षिगण यह कर्तव्य बताते हैं कि वह स्त्री और पुत्रोंका भरण-पोषण तथा वेदशास्त्रोंका स्वाध्याय करे ।।
evaṁ hi yo brāhmaṇo yajñaśīlo gārhasthyam adhyāvasate yathāvat | gṛhasthavṛttiṁ praviśodhya samyak svarge viśuddhaṁ phalam āpnute saḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「すぐれた家住（ガールハスティヤ）のアーシュラマに住まう二度生まれの者に対し、聖仙たちは、妻子を養い、ヴェーダとシャーストラを規律正しく自習（スヴァーディヤーヤ）することこそ正しい務めであると説く。まことに、生来ヤジュニャ（祭祀）に帰依し、定められたとおり家住の法を守り、生活の糧と行いを徹底して浄めるブラーフマナは、天界において清浄で汚れなき果報を得るのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Householder life is praised as an excellent āśrama when lived according to rule: one should support dependents (wife and children), maintain disciplined study of Veda/śāstra, and keep one’s livelihood and conduct pure; such a life yields a ‘pure fruit’ (viśuddha-phala), described here as heavenly merit.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. In this passage he explains the sages’ view of gṛhastha-dharma, emphasizing sacrifice-oriented living, responsible maintenance of family, and purification of one’s means of living as the basis for meritorious results.