Shloka 10
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
अधीत्य वेदान् कृतसर्वकृत्य: संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा | समाहित: प्रचरेद् दुश्चरं यो गार्हस्थ्यधर्म मुनिधर्मजुष्टम्
bhīṣma uvāca | adhītya vedān kṛta-sarva-kṛtyaḥ santānam utpādya sukhāni bhuktvā | samāhitaḥ pracared duścaraṃ yo gārhasthya-dharmaṃ muni-dharma-juṣṭam ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ವೇದಗಳನ್ನು ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ಮಾಡಿ, ವಿಧಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಿ, ಸಂತಾನವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದಿಟ್ಟು, ಗೃಹಸ್ಥಧರ್ಮದ ಯುಕ್ತವಾದ ಸುಖಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸಿದ ಮೇಲೂ, ಸಮಾಹಿತಚಿತ್ತನಾಗಿ ಮುನಿಧರ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಂದಿಕೊಂಡ ದುರಾಚರ ಗಾರ್ಹಸ್ಥ್ಯಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸುವವನೇ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ideal householder: one who completes Vedic learning and prescribed duties, sustains family life through legitimate enjoyments and progeny, yet remains mentally disciplined and lives with sage-like restraint. Household life is presented as spiritually weighty and difficult, but excellent when aligned with ethical self-control.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma after the war. Here he describes the standards of gārhasthya-dharma, emphasizing that a householder who fulfills scriptural obligations and family responsibilities while maintaining inner composure and ascetic virtues is worthy of high regard.