Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Ātma-saṃyama (Marks of Social Conduct and Self-Restraint) | वर्णलक्षणम् एवं आत्मसंयमः
प्रियदेवातिथेयाश्व वदान्या: प्रियसाधव: । क्षेम्यमात्मवतां मार्गमास्थिता हस्तदक्षिणम्
Bhīṣma uvāca: priyadevā-titheyāś ca vadānyāḥ priyasādhavaḥ | kṣemyaṃ ātma-vatāṃ mārgaṃ āsthitā hasta-dakṣiṇam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Yaong mga nalulugod sa pagsamba sa mga diyos at sa marangal na pagtanggap sa panauhin, yaong mapagbigay at minamahal ang pakikisama sa mabubuting tao—ang gayong mga taong may kabutihang-loob ay tumatahak sa mapalad at ligtas na landas ng mga may pagpipigil-sa-sarili, isang landas na mapagkakatiwalaan na gaya ng sariling kanang kamay.
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma links social-religious duties (worship and hospitality) and moral virtues (generosity, love of the good) with inner discipline: such people naturally enter a secure, auspicious path grounded in self-mastery, portrayed as dependable as one’s right hand.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by describing the qualities of righteous people and the kind of path they adopt—one characterized by welfare, auspiciousness, and self-control.