Shloka 19
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
लोकयात्रामिहैके तु धर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिण: । समुद्दिष्टं सतां धर्म स््वयमूहेत पण्डित:
lokayātrām ihaike tu dharma prāhur manīṣiṇaḥ | samuddiṣṭaṃ satāṃ dharmaḥ svayam ūhet paṇḍitaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Sa mundong ito, may ilang mapagnilay na nagsasabing ang mga kaugaliang nagpapatakbo sa lipunan ang siyang ‘dharma’. Ngunit ang tunay na marunong ay dapat magnilay sa sarili at tiyaking matatag ang dharma na itinuturo at itinatakda ng mga banal at mabubuti—dharma na nakaugat sa śāstra—sa halip na umasa lamang sa umiiral na gawi ng lipunan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not to be equated blindly with whatever society happens to practice. A discerning, learned person should reflect and determine true dharma as indicated by the virtuous and grounded in śāstric guidance, using reasoned inquiry (ūha).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises Yudhiṣṭhira that while some define dharma as mere social convention (lokayātrā), the wise must critically examine and settle what is genuinely righteous according to the standards of the good and the prescriptions of the śāstras.