Shloka 10
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
अधीत्य वेदान् कृतसर्वकृत्य: संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा | समाहित: प्रचरेद् दुश्चरं यो गार्हस्थ्यधर्म मुनिधर्मजुष्टम्,अब गृहस्थाश्रमके धर्म सुनो--जो वेदोंका अध्ययन पूर्ण करके समस्त वेदोक्त शुभ कर्मोका अनुष्ठान करनेके पश्चात् अपनी विवाहिता पत्नीके गर्भसे संतान उत्पन्न कर उस आश्रमके न्यायोचित भोगोंको भोगता और एकाग्रचित्त हो मुनिजनोचित धर्मसे युक्त दुष्कर गार्हस्थ्य-धर्मका पालन करता है, वह उत्तम है
bhīṣma uvāca | adhītya vedān kṛta-sarva-kṛtyaḥ santānam utpādya sukhāni bhuktvā | samāhitaḥ pracared duścaraṃ yo gārhasthya-dharmaṃ muni-dharma-juṣṭam ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Agora ouve o dharma do chefe de família. Aquele que, tendo estudado os Vedas e cumprido todos os deveres prescritos, gerado descendência e desfrutado dos confortos legítimos da vida doméstica, ainda assim—com a mente firme e recolhida—pratica o difícil dharma do lar, um modo de vida em harmonia com a disciplina dos sábios, esse é verdadeiramente excelente.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ideal householder: one who completes Vedic learning and prescribed duties, sustains family life through legitimate enjoyments and progeny, yet remains mentally disciplined and lives with sage-like restraint. Household life is presented as spiritually weighty and difficult, but excellent when aligned with ethical self-control.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma after the war. Here he describes the standards of gārhasthya-dharma, emphasizing that a householder who fulfills scriptural obligations and family responsibilities while maintaining inner composure and ascetic virtues is worthy of high regard.