Shloka 36
अध्याय २०८ — इन्द्रियनिग्रहः, सत्याहिंसात्मकवाक्, कर्मफलविवेकः
Restraint of the Senses, Non-harming Truthful Speech, and Discernment of Karmic Consequence
एतेषां कीर्तन कृत्वा सर्वपापात् प्रमुच्यते । यस्यां यस्यां दिशि होते तां दिशं शरणं गत: । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्य: स्वस्तिमांश्व गृहान् व्रजेत्,इन सबका गुणगान करनेसे मनुष्य सम्पूर्ण पापोंसे मुक्त हो जाता है। जिस-जिस दिशामें ये महर्षि रहते हैं, उस-उस दिशामें जानेपर जो मनुष्य इनकी शरण लेता है, वह सब पापोंसे मुक्त हो जाता है और कुशलपूर्वक अपने घरको पहुँच जाता है
eteṣāṃ kīrtanaṃ kṛtvā sarvapāpāt pramucyate | yasyāṃ yasyāṃ diśi hote tāṃ diśaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ | mucyate sarvapāpebhyaḥ svastimān śva gṛhān vrajet |
Bhīṣma said: “By celebrating and reciting the praises of these sages, a person is released from all sin. In whatever direction they dwell, if one goes to that region and takes refuge with them, one is freed from every wrongdoing and returns home safely and in well-being.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Praising the virtuous (here, revered sages) and seeking their refuge has purifying power: it removes sin and brings protection. The verse links moral cleansing not to force or status, but to humble reverence, right association, and surrender to dharmic exemplars.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and spiritual welfare. He states that reciting the merits of certain sages and approaching them for shelter—wherever they reside—leads to freedom from sin and a safe return, underscoring the practical benefit of seeking holy guidance.