Shloka 9
Tapas, Tīrtha, and Moral Rehabilitation (Śānti-parva 148)
तस्माद् धर्म चरिष्यामि धर्मो हि परमा गति: । दृष्टो धर्मो हि धर्मिछे यादृशो विहगोत्तमे
tasmād dharma cariṣyāmi dharmo hi paramā gatiḥ | dṛṣṭo dharmo hi dharmiṣṭhe yādṛśo vihagottame ||
ଏହେତୁ ମୁଁ ଧର୍ମକୁ ହିଁ ଆଚରିବି; କାରଣ ଧର୍ମ ହିଁ ପରମ ଗତି। ସେଇ ଧର୍ମାତ୍ମା ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପକ୍ଷୀରେ ଯେପରି ଧର୍ମ ମୁଁ ଦେଖିଛି, ସେହିପରି ଧର୍ମ ମୋତେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଇଷ୍ଟ—ମହାତ୍ମା କପୋତ ନିଜ ଶରୀର ଦାନ କରି ମୋ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଅତିଥି-ସତ୍କାରର ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ୱଳ ଆଦର୍ଶ ରଖିଛି।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is presented as the highest goal, and true righteousness is measured by conduct—especially the unwavering protection and honoring of a guest (atithi), even when it demands personal sacrifice.
Bhishma, while instructing on dharma, refers to an exemplary incident involving a ‘best of birds’ (a pigeon) whose conduct embodied perfect righteousness through hospitality and self-offering; inspired by that model, he resolves to follow dharma in the same spirit.