Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
मणिभद्र उवाच सदा धर्मफलं राज्यं सुखानि विविधानि च । फलान्येवायमश्नातु कायक्लेशविवर्जित:,मणिभद्र बोला--धर्मके फल तो सदा राज्य और नाना प्रकारके सुख ही हैं; अतः यह ब्राह्मण शारीरिक कष्टसे रहित हो केवल उन फलोंका ही उपभोग करे
Maṇibhadra uvāca: sadā dharma-phalaṁ rājyaṁ sukhāni vividhāni ca | phalāny evāyam aśnātu kāya-kleśa-vivarjitaḥ ||
मणिभद्र उवाच—सदा धर्मफलं राज्यं सुखानि विविधानि च। फलान्येवायमश्नातु कायक्लेशविवर्जितः॥
मणिभद्र उवाच
Maṇibhadra frames dharma as yielding tangible rewards—sovereignty and diverse happiness—and advises that one who has earned such merit should enjoy its results without self-inflicted bodily suffering.
In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Maṇibhadra speaks to recommend that a brāhmaṇa (the person under discussion) should partake of the rightful fruits of his dharmic conduct, rather than embracing physical austerity or hardship.