Shloka 15
Karma-Phala Rahasya and the Ethics of Dāna (कर्मफल-रहस्यं दानधर्मश्च)
रूपमैश्वर्यमारोग्यमहिंसाफलम श्षुते । फलमूलाशिनो राज्यं स्वर्ग: पर्णाशिनां भवेत्
rūpam aiśvaryam ārogyam ahiṁsā-phalam aśnute | phala-mūlāśino rājyaṁ svargaḥ parṇāśināṁ bhavet ||
Disse Bhīṣma: Da não violência (ahiṁsā) obtêm-se os frutos da beleza, da prosperidade e da saúde. Aquele que vive de frutos e raízes alcança a soberania, e aquele que subsiste de folhas alcança o céu. Assim, o autocontrole disciplinado e, sobretudo, a ahiṁsā são louvados como práticas éticas poderosas, que concedem bem-estar mundano e recompensa espiritual mais elevada.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ahiṁsā (non-violence) is presented as a supremely fruitful discipline, yielding tangible benefits like health and prosperity, while graded ascetic restraints (living on fruits/roots or on leaves) are linked to correspondingly higher rewards such as sovereignty and heaven.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma by listing the results (phala) of ethical conduct and ascetic practices, emphasizing the exceptional potency of non-violence.