Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
धर्म सत्यं श्रुतं न्याय्यं महतीं प्राणिनां दयाम्
dharma satyaṁ śrutaṁ nyāyyaṁ mahatīṁ prāṇināṁ dayām
Jambuka disse: “(Sustentai) o dharma, a verdade, o que foi aprendido da tradição sagrada, o que é justo e apropriado, e uma grande compaixão para com os seres vivos.”
जम्बुक उवाच
The verse condenses ethical life into five pillars: dharma (right conduct), satya (truthfulness), śruta (guidance from sacred/authoritative learning), nyāyya (justice and fairness), and dayā (deep compassion toward all beings).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Jambuka speaks as a moral teacher, listing the virtues that should guide a person’s conduct and decisions, especially in matters of social duty and humane treatment of life.