Shloka 26
Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies
Gaṇa-nīti
तेषामन्योन्यभिन्नानां स्वशक्तिमनुतिष्ठताम्
teṣām anyonya-bhinnānāṁ svaśaktim anutiṣṭhatām
भीष्म उवाच—तेषामन्योन्यभिन्नानां स्वशक्तिमनुतिष्ठताम्—येषां जनानामन्योन्यं भेदोऽस्ति, ये च स्वस्वशक्त्या स्वस्वधर्मे स्वस्वकार्ये च स्थिताः…
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line emphasizes svadharma in a practical sense: people differ in nature and station, so ethical conduct is to perform one’s responsibilities in accordance with one’s own capacity (svaśakti), rather than imitating another’s role.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he frames a principle for social and moral life: among diverse persons, each should adhere to the duties and practices suited to his own ability and position.