देवतानां महाभाग धर्मचर्या न हीयते । अतिथीनां च सत्कारे नित्ययुक्तास्म्यतन्द्रिता,महाभाग! देवताओंकी आराधनारूप धर्मचर्यामें कोई कमी नहीं आयी है, अतिथियोंके सत्कारमें भी मैं सदा आलस्य छोड़कर लगी रही हूँ
devatānāṁ mahābhāga dharmacaryā na hīyate | atithīnāṁ ca satkāre nityayuktāsmy atandritā ||
Bhishma nói: “Hỡi bậc cao quý, sự hành trì dharma của ta—thể hiện qua việc thờ phụng và tôn kính các thần—chưa hề suy giảm. Cũng vậy, trong việc tiếp đãi và kính trọng khách khứa, ta luôn chuyên cần, không lơ là hay biếng nhác.”
भीष्म उवाच
Dharma is sustained through steady daily observances: reverence toward the divine and conscientious hospitality toward guests. Ethical life is shown not by claims but by unwavering practice without laziness or neglect.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma speaks to a noble interlocutor and asserts the constancy of his dharmic conduct—specifically, that his worship of the gods and his respectful reception of guests have not declined.