Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
बुद्धा भवति संयुक्तो माहात्म्यं चाधिगच्छति । वह मनुष्य इस भूतलपर भगवान् विष्णुकी महत्तासे युक्त तथा बुद्धिसम्पन्न हो विशेष माहात्म्य प्राप्त कर लेता है
buddhā bhavati saṁyukto māhātmyaṁ cādhigacchati |
भीष्म म्हणाले—जागृत बुद्धीने युक्त होऊन जो मनुष्य भगवान विष्णूच्या महिमेशी संलग्न होतो, तो खरे माहात्म्य प्राप्त करतो आणि विलक्षण आध्यात्मिक कीर्ती मिळवितो।
भीष्म उवाच
True eminence arises from the union of discernment (buddhi) and alignment with divine greatness (māhātmya), here associated with Lord Viṣṇu; intelligence guided by devotion elevates one’s ethical and spiritual standing.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on dharma and inner cultivation, stating that a person who becomes wise and is connected with sacred greatness attains distinguished spiritual glory.