Shloka 18
ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः
Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas
अहिंसा सत्यवचनमानृशंस्यं दमो घृणा । एतत् तपो विदुर्धीरा न शरीरस्य शोषणम्,किसी भी प्राणीकी हिंसा न करना, सत्य बोलना, क्रूरताको त्याग देना, मन और इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखना तथा सबके प्रति दयाभाव बनाये रखना--इन्हींको धीर पुरुषोंने तप माना है। केवल शरीरको सुखाना ही तप नहीं है
ahiṃsā satyavacanam ānṛśaṃsyaṃ damo ghṛṇā | etat tapo vidur dhīrā na śarīrasya śoṣaṇam ||
Bhishma said: “Non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from cruelty, self-restraint of mind and senses, and compassion toward all beings—these the wise know as true tapas. Mere emaciation or torment of the body is not tapas.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True tapas is ethical and inward discipline—non-violence, truthfulness, kindness, self-restraint, and compassion—rather than merely punishing or starving the body.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira by redefining austerity as moral conduct and controlled living, not external bodily mortification.