Shloka 6
धन-यज्ञ-दानविवेकः
Wealth, Sacrifice, and Disciplined Giving
कर्मनिष्ठां श्न बुद्धयेथास्तपोनिष्ठां श्व पार्थिव । वैखानसानां कौन्तेय वचन श्रूयते यथा
karmanīṣṭhāṃ ca buddhyethās tapo-nīṣṭhāṃ ca pārthiva | vaikhānasānāṃ kaunteya vacanaṃ śrūyate yathā ||
Oh rey, debes comprender que entre los videntes hay algunos firmes en el karma, en la acción ritual, y otros firmes en el tapas, en la austeridad. Oh hijo de Kuntī, así se oye el dicho de los sabios Vaikhānasa—y con ello comienza su consejo autorizado sobre las debidas orientaciones de la vida religiosa.
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes two legitimate orientations among ṛṣis: commitment to dharma through prescribed action (karmanīṣṭhā) and commitment through austerity and renunciation (tapo-nīṣṭhā), presenting both as recognized, tradition-backed modes of righteous life.
Devāsthāna addresses the king (Kaunteya/Yudhiṣṭhira), introducing a traditional Vaikhānasa teaching. The speaker frames the discussion by noting that sages follow different disciplines, preparing the listener for an authoritative exposition that follows.