Shloka 22
Satya–Anṛta Viveka (Discrimination between Truth and Falsehood) | सत्य–अनृत विवेकः
च्युत: सदैव धर्मेभ्योडमानवं धर्ममास्थित:
cyutaḥ sadaiva dharmebhyo dānavam dharmam āsthitaḥ | dhanam ityeva pāpānāṃ sarveṣām iha niścayaḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Aquele que caiu do dharma, que constantemente abandona os deveres justos e assume um modo de conduta demoníaco—a convicção assentada de tal pecador neste mundo é apenas esta: ‘riqueza, riqueza somente’.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a person abandons dharma and adopts an asuric disposition, their thinking collapses into a single aim—acquiring wealth—so ethical restraints no longer guide their actions.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct and governance, Bhishma characterizes the mindset of the wicked: they depart from dharma and become driven solely by the pursuit of wealth.