Shloka 5
धन-यज्ञ-दानविवेकः
Wealth, Sacrifice, and Disciplined Giving
तस्मात् पार्थ महायज्जैर्यजस्व बहुदक्षिणै: । स्वाध्याययज्ञा ऋषयो ज्ञानयज्ञास्तथापरे,कुन्तीनन्दन! अतः तुम बहुत-सी दक्षिणावाले बड़े-बड़े यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करो। स्वाध्याययज्ञ और ज्ञानयज्ञ तो ऋषिलोग किया करते हैं
tasmāt pārtha mahāyajñair yajasva bahu-dakṣiṇaiḥ | svādhyāya-yajñā ṛṣayo jñāna-yajñās tathāpare, kuntīnandana ||
“Therefore, O Pārtha, perform great sacrifices endowed with abundant gifts (dakṣiṇā) to the officiants. The seers undertake the sacrifice of sacred study (svādhyāya-yajña), and others perform the sacrifice of knowledge (jñāna-yajña), O son of Kuntī.”
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma can be pursued through different forms of yajña: outward ritual sacrifice supported by generous giving (dakṣiṇā), and inward sacrifices such as disciplined study (svādhyāya) and the cultivation of spiritual knowledge (jñāna). It affirms multiple legitimate paths while emphasizing generosity and commitment.
Devastāna addresses Arjuna (Pārtha, Kuntīnandana), advising him on righteous conduct. The speaker urges him toward major sacrificial rites with ample gifts, while also acknowledging that sages and other practitioners follow subtler sacrificial disciplines—study and knowledge—as their principal offerings.