अध्याय ७२ — राजधर्मः: प्रजारक्षण, कर-नीति, दण्ड-नीति, अमात्य-नियोजन
Chapter 72 — Royal Duty: protection of subjects, taxation, punishment, and appointments
एवं धर्म प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय परिपालय । ततः पुण्यफलं लब्ध्वा नाधिबन्धेन योक्ष्यसे,कुन्तीनन्दन! इस प्रकार प्रयत्नपूर्वक धर्मका पालन करो। इससे पुण्यका फल पाकर तुम कभी चिन्तामें नहीं पड़ोगे
evaṁ dharmaṁ prayatnena kaunteya paripālaya | tataḥ puṇyaphalaṁ labdhvā nādhibandhena yokṣyase, kuntīnandana ||
ಕೌಂತೇಯಾ! ಹೀಗೆ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಪಾಲಿಸು. ಆಗ ಪುಣ್ಯಫಲವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದು ನೀನು ಚಿಂತೆ-ಕ್ಲೇಶಗಳ ಬಂಧನಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma teaches that dharma must be actively upheld through conscious effort; such steadfast practice yields punya (merit) and leads to inner freedom from the fetters of anxiety and mental distress.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on righteous conduct and governance after the war. Here he urges the son of Kunti to preserve dharma diligently, assuring him that the resulting merit will protect him from being overwhelmed by worry.