Shloka 10
Śīla-prāpti and Śīla-lakṣaṇa (शीलप्राप्ति-शीललक्षणम्) | On the Acquisition and Marks of Character
अपध्यानमलो धर्मो मलो<र्थस्य निगृहनम् । सम्प्रमोदमल: कामो भूय: स्वगुणवर्जित:
Bhīṣma uvāca — apadhyānamalo dharmo malo 'rthasya nigṛhaṇam | sampramodamalaḥ kāmo bhūyaḥ svaguṇavarjitaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“法因怠惰与失念而染污；财因囤积与吝啬的紧握而染污；欲因轻佻的宴乐与醉态的欢愉而染污。然而，若人生三目标能离其各自之过，依其正当德性而行，则皆能导向安乐与人生之善。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dharma, artha, and kama are not rejected outright; rather, each becomes harmful when mixed with its characteristic 'stain'—negligence in dharma, hoarding in artha, and reckless revelry in kama. When pursued with their proper virtues and without these defects, the three aims support human welfare.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on ethical living and governance. Here he analyzes the three human aims (dharma, artha, kāma), identifying typical corruptions and affirming their beneficial form when disciplined and virtuous.