Shloka 8
अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः
Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness
आश्रमेषु च सर्वेषु दम एव विशिष्यते । यच्च तेषु फल धर्मे भूयो दान्ते तदुच्यते
āśrameṣu ca sarveṣu dama eva viśiṣyate | yac ca teṣu phalaṃ dharme bhūyo dānte tad ucyate ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Sa lahat ng apat na āśrama, ang pagpipigil-sa-sarili (dama) ang ipinahahayag na pinakadakila. Anumang bunga ang nakukuha sa pagsasagawa ng dharma sa mga āśrama, ang bunga ring iyon ay dumarating nang higit na masagana sa taong tunay na may pagpipigil.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Self-restraint (dama)—the disciplined governance of senses and impulses—is the highest excellence across all four āśramas, and it amplifies the spiritual and ethical fruits of dharma practiced in any stage of life.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira, emphasizing that regardless of one’s life-stage duties, inner discipline is the decisive factor that increases the merit and effectiveness of righteous conduct.