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13. Anushasana Parva
The Book of the Instructions · 168 adhyayas
Bhishma's teaching continues — on giving, austerity, non-violence, truth, the householder's duties and the workings of karma. Yudhishthira's questions here are small and very practical: which gift is the greatest, what a woman's dharma is, what fruit follows which act. At last Uttarayan arrives, and Bhishma gives up his life.
Key Episodes
- Dana-dharma — which kind of giving is highest
- An extended teaching on non-violence
- The duties of the householder, and the dharma of women
- Karma, its fruit, and rebirth
- The dialogue between Shiva and Uma
- The coming of Uttarayan, and Bhishma's death
Shlokas
Anushasana Parva
अहिंसा परमो धर्मः
ahiṁsā paramo dharmaḥ
Non-violence is the highest dharma. Bhishma's teaching — spoken, tellingly, from a bed of arrows at the end of the bloodiest war ever told.