Shloka 61
Devanagari script
एक एव चरेद् धर्म न धर्मध्वजिको भवेत् | धर्मवाणिजका होते ये धर्ममुपभुज्जते
Transliteration
eka eva cared dharmaṁ na dharmadhvajiko bhavet | dharmavāṇijakā hote ye dharmam upabhuñjate ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“人当行法，即便必须独自而行；不可作‘举法为旗’、以德自炫之人。凡将法当作谋生之具、为利而‘享用’法者，不过是贩卖正义的商人。”
Word by Word
एकःalone, single
एकः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
एवindeed, only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
चरेत्should practice/observe
चरेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootचर्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
धर्मम्dharma, righteousness
धर्मम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
धर्मध्वजिकःone who carries dharma as a banner; a hypocritical showman of dharma
धर्मध्वजिकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मध्वजिक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भवेत्should become/be
भवेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
धर्मवाणिजकाःtraders in dharma; those who make dharma a business
धर्मवाणिजकाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मवाणिजक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
येwho, those who
ये:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
धर्मम्dharma
धर्मम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
उपभुञ्जतेenjoy/use (for oneself), exploit
उपभुञ्जते:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-भुज्
FormPresent (Lat), Third, Plural, Atmanepada
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
True dharma is inward integrity and consistent conduct, not public display. One should practice righteousness even without social support, and avoid using dharma as a tool for status, profit, or livelihood.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on ethical living and right conduct. Here he warns against performative religiosity (dharmadhvaja) and condemns those who commercialize dharma (dharmavāṇijaka).