धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
कर्माण्यपरिमेयाणि चतुर्मूर्तिधरो हाहम्
karmāṇy aparimeyāṇi caturmūrtidharo hāham
ہائے! میرے اعمال بےپایاں ہیں؛ میں چہار صورتوں کا حامل ہوں۔
(भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights the moral weight and complexity of karma: actions and their consequences can be immeasurable, especially for a person who must uphold multiple duties or identities. It encourages humility and careful discernment about one’s roles and the far-reaching effects of one’s deeds.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma speaks in a reflective tone, characterizing his actions as vast and difficult to quantify, and describing himself as bearing a ‘fourfold form’—suggesting the burden of multiple roles or manifestations that complicate ethical responsibility.