Shloka 12
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
एवं भवति पापात्मा धर्मात्मानं तु मे शृणु यथा कुशलधर्मा स कुशल प्रतिपद्यते
evaṁ bhavati pāpātmā dharmātmānaṁ tu me śṛṇu yathā kuśaladharmā sa kuśalaḥ pratipadyate
“Ganyan nabubuo ang taong may isip na makasalanan. Ngayon, pakinggan ninyo ako tungkol sa taong may isip na matuwid: kung paanong ang bihasa sa dharma ay nakakamit ang kagalingan at nagpapatuloy sa landas ng kabutihan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma contrasts two moral trajectories: the formation of a sinful disposition (pāpātmā) and, in contrast, the way a righteous person (dharmātmā)—one skilled in dharma—attains kuśala, i.e., welfare and auspicious good.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction by concluding a description of how a wicked person becomes so, and then turns to explain the corresponding path of the virtuous—how right understanding and practice of dharma leads to well-being.