Shloka 9
Śīla-prāpti and Śīla-lakṣaṇa (शीलप्राप्ति-शीललक्षणम्) | On the Acquisition and Marks of Character
अर्थार्थमन्यद् भवति विपरीतमथापरम् । अनर्थार्थमवाप्यार्थमन्यत्राद्योपकारकम् | बुद्धयाबुद्धिरिहार्थे न तदज्ञाननिकृष्टया
bhīṣma uvāca | arthārtham anyad bhavati viparītam athāparam | anarthārtham avāpya artham anyatrādyopakārakam | buddhyā abuddhir iha arthe na tad ajñāna-nikṛṣṭayā |
毗湿摩说道：“在求财之途，有时一种做法能致富；而另一种做法——虽亦以获利为意——却可能结出相反之果。有时人纵得财富，反而趋向有害而败亡之行；有时又有别于财富的种种手段，反能助益于法。因此，‘法生财，财护法’之关系极其微妙；愚人被无明所生的卑劣见解所迷，不肯信受——于是两者之果皆不得。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the link between wealth (artha) and righteousness (dharma) is complex: actions aimed at gain can backfire, and even gained wealth can lead to ruin if it fuels harmful conduct. Only clear discernment recognizes that dharma can generate stable prosperity and that prosperity, rightly used, can support dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on right conduct and statecraft, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by analyzing how pursuits of wealth can produce mixed outcomes, warning against ignorance-driven judgments that separate dharma and artha or treat them simplistically.