Shloka 41
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
हिरण्यदानैगोंदानैर्भूमिदानैश्न सर्वश: । मांसस्याभक्षणे धर्मो विशिष्ट इति न: श्रुति:
hiraṇyadānai gōdānai bhūmidānaiś ca sarvaśaḥ | māṁsasyābhakṣaṇe dharmo viśiṣṭa iti naḥ śrutiḥ ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: «Con dones de oro, dones de vacas y dones de tierras—con toda obra de caridad semejante—se obtiene sin duda mérito; pero hemos oído por la tradición sagrada que el dharma de abstenerse de comer carne es aún más excelso que esos dones».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that while major charities like donating gold, cows, and land are highly meritorious, the ethical discipline of not eating meat is regarded by tradition as an even higher form of dharma—because it aligns conduct with non-harm and restraint.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by ranking virtues: he acknowledges celebrated gifts (dāna) but elevates abstention from meat as a superior ethical practice, citing received sacred teaching (śruti).