Shloka 19
अहिंसयित्वा ब्रह्महत्याविधानम् / Brahmahatyā incurred without physical violence
भीष्म उवाच अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोध आनृशंस्यं दमस्तथा । आर्जवं चैव राजेन्द्र निश्चितं धर्मलक्षणम्,भीष्मजीने कहा--राजेन्द्र! अहिंसा, सत्य, अक्रोध, कोमलता, इन्द्रियसंयम और सरलता--ये धर्मके निश्चित लक्षण हैं
bhīṣma uvāca: ahiṃsā satyam akrodha ānṛśaṃsyaṃ damas tathā | ārjavaṃ caiva rājendra niścitaṃ dharmalakṣaṇam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai raja, tanda-tanda dharma yang pasti ialah: ahimsa (tidak melakukan kekerasan), berkata benar, bebas daripada kemarahan, belas kasih (lemah lembut terhadap semua makhluk), mengekang pancaindera, dan kelurusan hati. Apabila sifat-sifat ini teguh berakar, terserlahlah apakah erti perilaku yang benar.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma defines dharma through practical virtues: non-violence, truth, freedom from anger, compassion, sense-restraint, and straightforwardness. These are presented as reliable indicators of righteous living, not merely ritual or status.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs King Yudhisthira on dharma. Here he succinctly lists the settled marks of dharma as a guide for the king’s conduct and governance after the war.