Shloka 17
ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः
Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas
शरीर-निर्वाहमात्रके लिये धन प्राप्त करके यज्ञमें प्रवृत्त हुए महामनस्वी ब्राह्मणोंद्वारा जो यज्ञ सम्पादित होते हैं, वे भी हिंसा आदि दोषोंसे युक्त होनेपर उत्तम फल नहीं देते हैं, ऐसा श्रुतिका सिद्धान्त सुननेमें आता है ।। तपो यज्ञादपि श्रेष्ठमित्येषा परमा श्रुति: । तत् ते तप: प्रवक्ष्यामि विद्वंस्तदपि मे शूणु,अत: यज्ञकी अपेक्षा भी तप श्रेष्ठ है, यह वेदका परम उत्तम वचन है। विद्वान् युधिष्ठिर! मैं तुम्हें तपका स्वरूप बताता हूँ, तुम मुझसे उसके विषयमें सुनो
tapo yajñād api śreṣṭham ity eṣā paramā śrutiḥ | tat te tapaḥ pravakṣyāmi vidvaṃs tad api me śṛṇu |
Bhishma said: “The highest teaching of the Vedas declares that austerity (tapas) is superior even to sacrifice (yajña). Therefore, O wise Yudhishthira, I shall explain to you the true nature of tapas—listen to me.” In the ethical frame, Bhishma stresses that ritual acts, even when performed by well-meaning Brahmins merely for livelihood, may be tainted by violence and other faults; thus inner discipline and moral restraint are held forth as the surer path to the highest good.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That tapas—inner austerity, restraint, and disciplined conduct—is proclaimed by the highest Vedic authority as superior even to yajña, especially when ritual action risks being tainted by हिंसा (violence) or other ethical defects.
In the Shanti Parva dharma instruction, Bhishma addresses Yudhishthira and transitions from discussing the limitations of sacrifice to announcing a focused exposition on the nature and value of tapas.