Shloka 8
अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः
Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness
आश्रमेषु च सर्वेषु दम एव विशिष्यते । यच्च तेषु फल धर्मे भूयो दान्ते तदुच्यते
āśrameṣu ca sarveṣu dama eva viśiṣyate | yac ca teṣu phalaṃ dharme bhūyo dānte tad ucyate ||
毗湿摩说道：“在四住期（āśrama）之中，自制（dama）被宣称为最卓越。于诸住期中奉行法（dharma）所得之果报，同样的果报，据说会以更大的分量归于真正能自律之人。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Self-restraint (dama)—the disciplined governance of senses and impulses—is the highest excellence across all four āśramas, and it amplifies the spiritual and ethical fruits of dharma practiced in any stage of life.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira, emphasizing that regardless of one’s life-stage duties, inner discipline is the decisive factor that increases the merit and effectiveness of righteous conduct.