Shloka 6
ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः
Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas
अहिंसको ज्ञानतृप्त: स ब्रह्मासनमर्हति । एते महर्त्विजस्तात सर्वे मान्या यथाहत:,इसी तरह जो बुद्धिमान, सत्यको धारण करने-वाला, इन्द्रिय संयमी, किसी भी प्राणीकी हिंसा न करनेवाला तथा राग-द्वेष आदि दोषोंसे दूर रहनेवाला है, जिसके शास्त्रज्ञान, सदाचार और कुल--ये तीनों अत्यन्त शुद्ध एवं निर्दोष हैं; जो अहिंसक और ज्ञान-विज्ञानसे तृप्त है, वही ब्रह्मेके आसनपर बैठनेका अधिकारी है। तात! ये सभी महान् ऋत्विज् यथायोग्य सम्मानके पात्र हैं
ahiṃsako jñānatṛptaḥ sa brahmāsanam arhati | ete mahartvijaḥ tāta sarve mānyā yathāhataḥ ||
Bhishma said: “He who is non-violent and satisfied through true knowledge is fit to occupy the seat of Brahmā. And, dear one, all these great officiating priests are worthy of honor, each in accordance with his due merit.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma links the highest spiritual eligibility (“Brahmā’s seat”) to ethical restraint: non-violence and inner fulfillment born of knowledge. He also teaches proportional respect—honor is due to worthy persons (here, great priests) according to their merit and role.
In the instruction-heavy Shanti Parva, Bhishma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. In this verse he praises the ideal of the non-violent, knowledge-satisfied person as supremely qualified, and he affirms that the eminent sacrificial priests present are all to be honored appropriately.