Śvetadvīpa-varṇana and Śāstra-pravartana (Śānti Parva 322)
सम्मानश्चावमानश्ष लाभालाभौ क्षयोदयौ । प्रवृत्ता विनिवर्तन्ते विधानान्ते पदे पदे
bhīṣma uvāca | sammānaś cāvamānaś ca lābhālābhau kṣayodayau | pravṛttā vinivartante vidhānānte pade pade ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Ang dangal at kahihiyan, ang pakinabang at pagkalugi, ang pagbagsak at pag-angat—ang mga ito’y patuloy na sumisibol sa bawat hakbang ayon sa itinakdang kaayusan na hinubog ng mga gawa sa nakaraang buhay. Pagkatapos malasap ang nakatalagang bunga, muli rin silang humuhupa. Kaya’t huwag magpagalaw sa mga ito; manatiling matatag sa dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Worldly opposites—honor/dishonor, gain/loss, rise/decline—are transient and unfold according to the ordained course shaped by past actions. Since they end after their destined fruition, one should cultivate steadiness and not let them disturb one’s commitment to dharma.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous living after the war. Here he emphasizes a practical ethical stance: do not be elated by success or crushed by setbacks, because such conditions repeatedly arise and pass away as part of the karmic order.