Shloka 24
Nakula’s Counsel on Yajña, Dāna, and Tyāga (नकुलोपदेशः—यज्ञदानत्यागविचारः)
स्वाध्याययज्ञा ऋषयो ज्ञानयज्ञास्तथा परे | अथापरे महायज्ञान् मनस्येव वितन्वते
svādhyāya-yajñā ṛṣayo jñāna-yajñās tathā pare | athāpare mahā-yajñān manasyeva vitanvate ||
Nakula dit : «Parmi les sages, certains accomplissent le sacrifice sous la forme de l’étude des Veda ; d’autres se vouent au sacrifice de la connaissance. D’autres encore, sans apparat extérieur, déploient de grands sacrifices au-dedans même de l’esprit, par la contemplation intérieure.»
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ‘yajña’ is not limited to external ritual: it includes disciplined Vedic study (svādhyāya), the pursuit of liberating knowledge (jñāna), and purely inward worship through mental contemplation. Different temperaments follow different legitimate paths of sacred practice.
Nakula is describing the varied spiritual disciplines practiced by sages—classifying them into those focused on Vedic recitation and study, those centered on knowledge and insight, and those who perform great ‘sacrifices’ internally through meditation—thereby broadening the understanding of religious duty beyond outward rites.