Shloka 29
Indra–Mataṅga Saṃvāda: On the rarity and responsibilities of Brāhmaṇya (इन्द्र-मतङ्ग संवादः)
श्रेष्ठतां सर्वभूतेषु तपो<र्थ नातिवर्तते । तदग्रयं प्रार्थयानस्त्वमचिराद् विनशिष्यसि
śreṣṭhatāṃ sarvabhūteṣu tapo'rthaṃ nātivartate | tadagryaṃ prārthayānas tvam acirād vinaśiṣyasi ||
Bhishma dit : « Parmi tous les êtres, la véritable prééminence est ce qui constitue le rang suprême (la brahmanité) ; tel est le but que tu désires. Mais l’austérité seule ne peut franchir ce seuil ni garantir cette fin. Ainsi, en convoitant ce rang premier, tu courras bientôt à ta perte. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma distinguishes between outer austerity (tapas) and genuine excellence or brahminhood as an ethical-spiritual quality. He warns that seeking superiority as a status through penance alone is misguided and can lead to downfall.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction, he addresses someone who longs for the highest rank among beings. Bhīṣma cautions that the person’s chosen means—tapas aimed at attaining that superiority—will not accomplish the intended end, and predicts imminent ruin due to that misplaced aspiration.