Shloka 126
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
कुशलेनैव धर्मेण गतिमिष्टां प्रपद्यते । इस प्रकार मनुष्य पापात्मा हो जाता है। अब धर्मात्माके विषयमें मुझसे सुनो। वह जिस प्रकार परहित-साधक कल्याणकारी धर्मका आचरण करता है
kuśalenaiva dharmeṇa gatim iṣṭāṃ prapadyate |
भीष्म उवाच—कुशलेनैव धर्मेण गतिमिष्टां प्रपद्यते। यथा हि परपीडनाद् अधर्माचरणेन पापात्मा भवति, तथा परहितसाधकेन कल्याणकरेण धर्मेणाचरन् कल्याणस्य भागी भवति। क्षेमकरधर्मप्रभावादेवेष्टां गतिं प्राप्नोति॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wholesome, welfare-promoting dharma is itself the effective means to attain one’s desired end; ethical conduct is presented as causally powerful, bringing well-being and the wished-for destiny.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous living, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by contrasting sinful tendencies with the dharmatman: the one who practices beneficial dharma for others’ good gains welfare and reaches the intended goal through dharma’s protective power.