Shloka 19
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
सर्वभूतेष्वनुक्रोशं कुर्वतस्तस्य भारत । आनुृशंस्यप्रवृत्तस्य सर्वावस्थं पदं भवेत्,भरतनन्दन! जो समस्त प्राणियोंपर दया करता है और क्रूरतारहित कर्मामें ही प्रवृत्त होता है, उसे सभी आश्रमोंके सेवनका फल प्राप्त होता है
sarvabhūteṣv anukrośaṃ kurvatas tasya bhārata | ānṛśaṃsya-pravṛttasya sarvāvasthaṃ padaṃ bhavet ||
भीष्म उवाच—सर्वभूतेष्वनुक्रोशं कुर्वतस्तस्य भारत। आनृशंस्यप्रवृत्तस्य सर्वावस्थं पदं भवेत्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Universal compassion and a commitment to non-cruel conduct are presented as a dharmic essence so powerful that they yield the same spiritual merit as fulfilling the duties of all four āśramas; ethical disposition is treated as the unifying heart of dharma.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war; here he emphasizes that kindness to all beings and freedom from cruelty constitute a universally valid path, not limited by one’s life-stage or social condition.