Shloka 43
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
सर्वान् कामान् कामयानो हि धीर: सत्त्वेनाल्पेनाप्रुते हीनदोष: । यश्षात्मान प्रार्थयते<र्थ्यमानै: श्रेय:पात्रं पूरयते च नाल्पम्
sarvān kāmān kāmayāno hi dhīraḥ sattvenālpenāprute hīna-doṣaḥ | yaś cātmānaṃ prārthayate 'rthyamānaiḥ śreyaḥ-pātraṃ pūrayate ca nālpam ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସମସ୍ତ ଭୋଗକୁ ଆକାଂକ୍ଷା କରୁଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯେ ଧୀର ଓ ବିବେକୀ ପୁରୁଷ ଅଳ୍ପ ସତ୍ତ୍ୱଶୁଦ୍ଧିରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦୋଷ ଓ ଅକଳୁଷ ରହେ, ସେ କ୍ଷୟ ପାଏ ନାହିଁ। ଏବଂ ଲୋକାର୍ଥ ପାଇଁ ଯାଚନା କରୁଥିବାମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯେତେବେଳେ ସେ ଆତ୍ମଶ୍ରେୟକୁ ହିଁ ଚାହେ, ସେତେବେଳେ ସେ ପୁଣ୍ୟ-କଲ୍ୟାଣର ପାତ୍ରକୁ ଅଳ୍ପ ନୁହେଁ, ବିପୁଳ ଭାବେ ପୂରଣ କରେ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire by itself is not the final measure of a person; what matters is inner purity (sattva), freedom from corruption and faults, and a deliberate orientation toward śreyas (the higher good). Even amid worldly requests and pressures, the wise person who seeks the self’s true welfare accumulates abundant merit and well-being.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira. Here he characterizes the dhīra (steadfast wise person): even if such a person moves among worldly desires and petitioners, his untainted nature and pursuit of śreyas make him a source and receptacle of great good rather than moral decline.