Shloka 10
Śīla-prāpti and Śīla-lakṣaṇa (शीलप्राप्ति-शीललक्षणम्) | On the Acquisition and Marks of Character
अपध्यानमलो धर्मो मलो<र्थस्य निगृहनम् । सम्प्रमोदमल: कामो भूय: स्वगुणवर्जित:,फलकी इच्छा धर्मका मल है, संगृूहीत करके रखना अर्थका मल है और अमोद-प्रमोद कामका मल है, परंतु यह त्रिवर्ग यदि अपने दोषोंसे रहित हो तो कल्याणकारक होता है
Bhīṣma uvāca — apadhyānamalo dharmo malo 'rthasya nigṛhaṇam | sampramodamalaḥ kāmo bhūyaḥ svaguṇavarjitaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “O dharma é manchado pela negligência e pela falta de atenção vigilante; a riqueza é manchada pelo acúmulo e pela retenção avara; e o desejo é manchado pela folia frívola e pelo deleite embriagado. Contudo, quando esses três fins são buscados sem seus defeitos próprios e em harmonia com as virtudes que lhes são devidas, tornam-se conducentes ao bem-estar e ao bem da vida.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dharma, artha, and kama are not rejected outright; rather, each becomes harmful when mixed with its characteristic 'stain'—negligence in dharma, hoarding in artha, and reckless revelry in kama. When pursued with their proper virtues and without these defects, the three aims support human welfare.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on ethical living and governance. Here he analyzes the three human aims (dharma, artha, kāma), identifying typical corruptions and affirming their beneficial form when disciplined and virtuous.