Shloka 7
Śvetadvīpa-varṇana and Śāstra-pravartana (Śānti Parva 322)
पुलाका इव धान्येषु पुत्यण्डा इव पक्षिषु । तद्विधास्ते मनुष्येषु येषां धर्मों न कारणम्,जिनका उद्देश्य धर्मपालन नहीं है, ऐसे मनुष्य मानव-समाजके भीतर वैसे ही समझे जाते हैं, जैसे धानोंमें थोथा धान और पक्षियोंमें सड़ा हुआ अंडा
pulākā iva dhānyeṣu putyaṇḍā iva pakṣiṣu | tadvidhās te manuṣyeṣu yeṣāṃ dharmo na kāraṇam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Seperti sekam di antara biji-bijian, dan seperti telur busuk di antara burung, demikianlah dalam masyarakat manusia terdapat orang-orang sebegitu—mereka yang bagi mereka dharma bukanlah pendorong (atau sebab yang memerintah).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person whose actions are not grounded in dharma is compared to chaff and a rotten egg—present within the group but lacking true substance and fitness. The verse urges making dharma the governing motive of life and conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous living after the war, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira. Here he uses sharp similes to classify and censure those in society who do not take dharma as their guiding principle.