Shloka 15
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
धर्म प्राप्य न्यायवृत्ति न बलीयान् न विन्दति । यस्माद् बलस्योपपत्तिरेकान्तेन न विद्यते
dharmaṁ prāpya nyāyavṛttiṁ na balīyān na vindati | yasmād balasyopapattir ekāntena na vidyate ||
毗湿摩说道：“即便得了正法（dharma），弱者也未必能获得完全合乎公正的生计。因为仅凭奉行正法，并不能绝对保证必得力量。因此在困厄之时，平日称为非法（adharma）的行为，有时也被说成‘法’，作为急难之下的权宜。然智者坚持：即使在灾难中，违背正法而行，所生仍是非法。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma does not mechanically guarantee worldly power or a secure, fully just livelihood; hence emergencies tempt people to justify questionable acts as ‘necessary.’ Still, Bhīṣma underscores that violating dharma remains adharma even when done under pressure—ethical labels should not be diluted by convenience.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and moral conduct, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about the tension between ideal righteousness and harsh realities. He explains why people invoke ‘emergency dharma’ in crises, while also warning that wise judgment recognizes the moral cost of actions taken against dharma.