Shloka 35
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
ऋषिभिर्यज्ञपटुभिर्यथावत् कर्मकर्तृभि: । समिद्धि: परिसंकीर्ण दीप्यमानैश्व पावकै:
ṛṣibhir yajñapaṭubhir yathāvat karmakartr̥bhiḥ | samiddhiḥ parisaṃkīrṇā dīpyamānaiś ca pāvakaiḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “When the rites are performed in due order by sages skilled in sacrifice—true executors of sacred action—the sacrificial kindling and offerings become fully arranged and abundant, and the fires blaze brightly.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma in ritual life depends on competence and correctness: when qualified sages perform prescribed actions in the proper manner, the sacrificial process becomes orderly and fruitful, symbolized by the fire blazing brightly.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing on dharma and right conduct; here he uses the image of a well-conducted sacrifice—performed by expert ṛṣis—where the fuel and arrangements are complete and the sacred fires burn intensely.