Shloka 8

Śīla-prāpti and Śīla-lakṣaṇa (शीलप्राप्ति-शीललक्षणम्) | On the Acquisition and Marks of Character

Devanagari script

श्रेष्ठे बुद्धिस्त्रिवर्गस्यथ यदयं प्राप्तुयान्नर: । कर्मणा बुद्धिपूर्वेण भवत्यर्थो न वा पुन:,आसक्ति और फलेच्छाको त्यागकर त्रिवर्गका सेवन किया जाय तो उसका पर्यवसान कल्याणमें ही होता है। यदि मनुष्य उसे प्राप्त कर सके तो बड़े सौभाग्यकी बात है। अर्थसिद्धिके लिये समझ-बूझकर धर्मानुष्ठान करनेपर भी कभी अर्थकी सिद्धि होती है, कभी नहीं होती है

Transliteration

śreṣṭhe buddhis trivargasya yathā yad ayaṃ prāptuyān naraḥ | karmaṇā buddhipūrveṇa bhavaty artho na vā punaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“关于人生三大目标——法（dharma）、利（artha）与欲（kāma）——最高的见解在此：若有人真能证得此理，实乃大福。即便为了物质成就而以审慎明智之力履行本分，有时能得财富——有时却不得。因此，若追求三者而不执著、不贪求果报，其终归多趋于安乐与吉祥。”

Word by Word

श्रेष्ठेin the best (state/means)

बुद्धिःintelligence, understanding

त्रिवर्गस्यof the three aims (dharma-artha-kāma)

अथthen/now/and

यत्which/that (thing)

अयम्this (man)

प्राप्तुयात्might obtain/should obtain

नरःa man

कर्मणाby action; by ritual/act

बुद्धिपूर्वेणpreceded by understanding; deliberately

भवतिbecomes; occurs; is

अर्थःwealth; success; result

नnot

वाor

पुनःagain; on the other hand

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even intelligent, well-planned action does not guarantee material gain; therefore one should pursue dharma, artha, and kāma without attachment and without fruit-craving, so that the overall outcome tends toward true welfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on right conduct and the aims of life, emphasizing disciplined action guided by discernment and the need for non-attachment to outcomes.