Shloka 43
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
प्राज्ञो वा यदि वा मूर्ख: सधनो निर्धनो5पि वा । सर्व: कालवशं याति शुभाशुभसमन्वित:,विद्वान् हो या मूर्ख, धनवान् हो या निर्धन, सभी अपने शुभ या अशुभ कर्मोंके साथ कालके अधीन हो जाते हैं
prājño vā yadi vā mūrkhaḥ sadhano nirdhano 'pi vā | sarvaḥ kālavaśaṃ yāti śubhāśubhasamanvitaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Sama ada seseorang itu bijaksana atau bodoh, berharta atau papa, semuanya tunduk di bawah kekuasaan Masa, sambil membawa bersama akibat perbuatan baik dan jahatnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
All beings—regardless of wisdom or folly, wealth or poverty—are subject to Time, and they proceed carrying the results of their good and bad actions. The verse stresses inevitability (kāla) and moral accountability (śubha–aśubha karma).
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and right understanding after the war. Here he emphasizes a universal truth: social distinctions do not exempt anyone from Time’s rule, and karma accompanies each person.