Shloka 246
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 28: Dharmādharmalakṣaṇa in Āpad
Crisis-Discernment of Right and Wrong
स धर्मात्मा धर्ममधीत्य पुण्यं यदिच्छया व्रजति ब्रह्मलोकम् । इसके सिवा क्षत्रिय धर्मके अनुसार सावधान रहकर प्रजाजनोंकी रक्षा करे, दान दे, यज्ञ करे, सम्पूर्ण वेदोॉंका अध्ययन करके विवाह करे और पुण्य कर्मोका अनुष्ठान करता हुआ गृहस्थाश्रममें रहे। इस प्रकार वह धर्मात्मा क्षत्रिय धर्म एवं पुण्यका सम्पादन करके अपनी इच्छाके अनुसार ब्रह्मलोकको जाता है
sa dharmātmā dharmam adhītya puṇyaṁ yad-icchayā vrajati brahmalokam |
Vāyu disse: “Tendo estudado e praticado o dever justo e acumulado mérito, esse homem virtuoso alcança Brahmaloka conforme a sua própria vontade. Além disso, permanecendo vigilante segundo o código do kṣatriya, deve proteger o povo, dar dádivas, realizar sacrifícios, estudar plenamente os Vedas, casar-se e continuar a observância de ritos meritórios enquanto vive a vida de chefe de família. Assim, cumprindo o kṣatriya-dharma e reunindo mérito, ele vai a Brahmaloka como deseja.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a kṣatriya’s path to spiritual merit is not only through valor but through disciplined adherence to duty: protecting the people, giving charity, performing sacrifices, studying the Vedas, marrying, and living responsibly as a householder. Such dharma-based living yields puṇya and leads to exalted realms like Brahmaloka.
Vāyudeva is instructing about righteous conduct and its results, outlining the ideal kṣatriya-gṛhastha obligations and stating the फल (result): by completing these duties and accumulating merit, the righteous person attains Brahmaloka according to his aspiration.