Shloka 20
Karma-Phala Rahasya and the Ethics of Dāna (कर्मफल-रहस्यं दानधर्मश्च)
अधीत्य सर्ववेदान् वै सद्यो दुःखादू विमुच्यते । मानसं हि चरन् धर्म स्वर्गलोकमुपाश्ुते
adhītya sarvavedān vai sadyo duḥkhād vimucyate | mānasaṃ hi caran dharmaṃ svargalokam upāśnute ||
Bhishma nói: “Ai tinh thông việc học trọn vẹn các Veda thì lập tức được giải thoát khỏi sầu khổ. Và ai thực hành dharma ở nội tâm—bằng kỷ luật của tâm—thì đạt đến cõi trời.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links two inner outcomes to two disciplines: comprehensive Vedic learning brings immediate release from sorrow, and sincere mental practice of dharma leads to attainment of Svarga. It emphasizes both knowledge (śruti-study) and inner ethical conduct (mānasa-dharma).
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he highlights the fruits of Vedic study and the importance of practicing righteousness at the level of the mind, not merely through outward acts.