Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12
लोकथर्मे च धर्मे च विशेषकरणं कृतम् । यथैकत्वं पुनर्यान्ति प्राणिनस्तत्र विस्तर:
lokadharme ca dharme ca viśeṣakaraṇaṃ kṛtam | yathaikatvaṃ punaryānti prāṇinastatra vistaraḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Itinakda ang pagkakaiba sa pagitan ng tungkuling panlupa at ng banal na tungkulin. Ito ang dahilan: ang mga nilalang, sa pagsunod sa kani-kanilang tungkulin, ay maaaring muling makamit ang pagiging iisa; tungkol dito, malawig ang sinasabi ng mga kasulatan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the scriptures distinguish between social/customary duties (lokadharma) and sacred/righteous duties (dharma) not to create ultimate separation, but to guide beings through appropriate conduct toward spiritual oneness (ekatva).
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he frames why different duties are prescribed: they function as practical paths suited to people’s roles, ultimately aiming at the same spiritual end.