Shloka 42
Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī
लोकयात्राविघातश्न दानधर्मफलागमे । तदर्थ वेदशब्दाशक्ष व्यवहाराक्ष लौकिका:
lokayātrāvighātaś ca dānadharmaphalāgame | tadarthaṃ vedāḥ śabdāś ca vyavahārāś ca laukikāḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“若不承认自我（真我）的存在，则世间生活之延续亦将受阻，人们也无从确信布施与诸般法行能得其果。盖吠陀之言与世俗之行，皆以自我之安乐与圆满为归趣。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma argues that acknowledging the Self (ātman) is necessary for ethics and religion to be meaningful: without it, society’s functioning (lokayātrā) collapses and faith in the fruits of charity and duty (dāna-dharma-phala) loses its basis; both Vedic injunctions and everyday norms ultimately aim at the Self’s welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right understanding, Bhīṣma continues his philosophical teaching, explaining why belief in the Self undergirds both scriptural authority (Vedic śabda) and ordinary social practice (laukika vyavahāra).