धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
कर्माण्यपरिमेयाणि चतुर्मूर्तिधरो हाहम्
karmāṇy aparimeyāṇi caturmūrtidharo hāham
హాయ్! నా కర్మలు అపరిమేయమైనవి; నేను చతుర్మూర్తిని ధరించినవాడను।
(भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights the moral weight and complexity of karma: actions and their consequences can be immeasurable, especially for a person who must uphold multiple duties or identities. It encourages humility and careful discernment about one’s roles and the far-reaching effects of one’s deeds.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma speaks in a reflective tone, characterizing his actions as vast and difficult to quantify, and describing himself as bearing a ‘fourfold form’—suggesting the burden of multiple roles or manifestations that complicate ethical responsibility.