Shloka 12
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
यदि अपने वर्णोचित कर्ममें स्थित, शान्त और ज्ञान-विज्ञानसे तृप्त ब्राह्मणको किसी प्रकारके असत् कर्मका आश्रय लिये बिना ही धन प्राप्त हो जाय तो वह उस धनसे विवाह करके संतानकी उत्पत्ति करे अथवा उस धनको दान और यज्ञमें लगा दे। धनको बाँटकर ही भोगना चाहिये, ऐसा सत्पुरुषोंका कथन है ।।
pariniṣitakāryas tu svādhyāyenaiva brāhmaṇaḥ | kuryād anyan na vā kuryān maitro brāhmaṇa ucyate ||
毗湿摩教诲道：“若一位婆罗门安住于其本分之业，寂静安然，以知识与明辨而自足；并且在不依附任何不善之行的情况下获得财富，则当以此财富或娶妻生子以续后嗣，或用于布施与祭祀（yajña）。贤者说：财富唯当先行分施，方可自享。又，已圆满履行应尽之责的婆罗门，当以圣典自学（svādhyāya）为足。无论他另行从事世务与否，如此安定、不害、善意遍及众生者，称为‘maitra’——万有之友。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
After fulfilling obligatory duties, a Brahmin should be grounded in svādhyāya (sacred study) and remain benevolent; optional actions are secondary, and true worth is measured by steadiness, learning, and friendliness (maitra) rather than by constant pursuit of external activity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira about ideal conduct—here describing the mark of a mature Brahmin: one who has completed required rites and lives centered on study, with freedom either to act further or to refrain, while maintaining goodwill toward all.