Shloka 23
Akṣara–Kṣara Viveka: Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda (अक्षर-क्षर विवेकः)
दमान्वित: पुरुषो धर्मशीलो भूतानि चात्मानमिवानुपश्येत् । गरीयस: पूजयेदात्मशकक््त्या सत्येन शीलेन सुखं नरेन्द्र
damānvitaḥ puruṣo dharmaśīlo bhūtāni cātmānam ivānupaśyet | garīyasaḥ pūjayed ātmaśaktyā satyena śīlena sukhaṃ narendra-rājan ||
ପରାଶର କହିଲେ— ରାଜନ, ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଦମ (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟସଂୟମ) ଯୁକ୍ତ ଓ ଧର୍ମଶୀଳ ହୋଇ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀକୁ ନିଜ ଆତ୍ମା ପରି ଦେଖିବା ଉଚିତ। ଯେମାନେ ବିଦ୍ୟା, ତପ, ବୟସ କିମ୍ବା ଗୁରୁସମ ମର୍ଯ୍ୟାଦାରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯଥାଶକ୍ତି ସମ୍ମାନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର, ସତ୍ୟ ଓ ସଦାଚାରରୁ ହିଁ ସୁଖ ମିଳେ।
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cultivate self-restraint and dharmic character, view all beings with the empathy of seeing them as oneself, honor those who are superior (by learning, austerity, age, or guru-status) within one’s means, and recognize that happiness rests on truthfulness and good conduct.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, the sage Parāśara addresses a king and delivers practical ethical guidance: inner discipline (dama), universal regard for beings, proper reverence to elders/teachers, and the foundations of happiness in satya (truth) and śīla (conduct).