Shloka 32
Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra
एक एव चरेद् धर्म नास्ति धर्मे सहायता । केवलं विधिमासाद्य सहाय: कि करिष्यति,केवल वेदविधिका सहारा लेकर अकेले ही धर्मका आचरण करना चाहिये। उसमें सहायताकी आवश्यकता नहीं है। कोई दूसरा सहायक आकर क्या करेगा
eka eva cared dharmaṁ nāsti dharme sahāyatā | kevalaṁ vidhim āsādya sahāyaḥ ki kariṣyati ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Isagawa ang dharma nang mag-isa; sa dharma ay walang pag-asa sa mga tagatulong. Kung ang tuntunin at wastong paraan lamang ang sandigan, ano pa ang magagawa ng anumang panlabas na katuwang? Ang lakas ng katuwiran ay nasa sariling paninindigan at tapat na pagsunod sa itinakdang landas, hindi sa hiniram na suporta.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is fundamentally personal: right conduct depends on one’s own commitment to the proper rule (vidhi), not on external support. Helpers cannot substitute for inner resolve and correct adherence to the prescribed path.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous living, Bhishma continues advising the listener on ethical conduct, emphasizing that dharma is to be pursued independently, with śāstric method as the true support rather than reliance on other people.