Shloka 28
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
अतिस्विष्टमधीतानां लोकानतितपस्विनाम् । अनाशनाम्न्योर्विशतां शूरा यान्ति परां गतिम्
ati-sviṣṭam adhītānāṁ lokān ati-tapasvinām | anāśanāmnyor viśatāṁ śūrā yānti parāṁ gatim ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—अतिशय उत्तम यज्ञ करणारे, गाढ वेदाध्ययन करणारे, महान तपस्वी आणि आत्मशुद्धीसाठी उपवास-व्रताने अग्निप्रवेश करणारे—यांना जे लोक प्राप्त होतात, त्याहूनही श्रेष्ठ लोक ब्राह्मणासाठी प्राण देणाऱ्या शूरवीरांना मिळतात.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the merit of courageous self-sacrifice undertaken to protect a Brahmin and uphold dharma surpasses even the fruits of flawless sacrifice, intense Vedic learning, severe austerity, and extreme purificatory vows. Duty-oriented sacrifice for the protection of the worthy is presented as a higher ethical achievement than purely self-directed asceticism.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is explaining hierarchies of spiritual attainment. He contrasts various renowned paths to merit—ritual excellence, Vedic study, tapas, and fasting-based purificatory practices—with the superior destination gained by heroes who lay down their lives in defense of a Brahmin.