Shloka 8
Śīla-prāpti and Śīla-lakṣaṇa (शीलप्राप्ति-शीललक्षणम्) | On the Acquisition and Marks of Character
श्रेष्ठे बुद्धिस्त्रिवर्गस्यथ यदयं प्राप्तुयान्नर: । कर्मणा बुद्धिपूर्वेण भवत्यर्थो न वा पुन:
śreṣṭhe buddhis trivargasya yathā yad ayaṃ prāptuyān naraḥ | karmaṇā buddhipūrveṇa bhavaty artho na vā punaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Pemahaman tertinggi tentang tiga tujuan hidup—dharma, artha, dan kāma—ialah begini: jika seseorang benar-benar mampu mencapainya, itu suatu tuah yang besar. Walaupun seseorang melaksanakan kewajipannya dengan usaha yang sengaja dan bijaksana demi kejayaan kebendaan, kadang-kadang kekayaan diperoleh—dan kadang-kadang tidak. Oleh itu, apabila tiga tujuan itu diusahakan tanpa keterikatan dan tanpa dahaga akan hasil, kesudahannya cenderung menuju kebajikan, kesejahteraan, dan keberkatan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even intelligent, well-planned action does not guarantee material gain; therefore one should pursue dharma, artha, and kāma without attachment and without fruit-craving, so that the overall outcome tends toward true welfare.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on right conduct and the aims of life, emphasizing disciplined action guided by discernment and the need for non-attachment to outcomes.