Shloka 16
Adhyāya 189: Japa—Inquiry into the Jāpaka, Method
Vidhi), and Fruit (Phala
ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मतन्त्रस्थास्तपस्तेषां न नश्यति । ब्रह्म धारयतां नित्य॑ं व्रतानि नियमांस्तथा
brāhmaṇā brahmatantrasthās tapas teṣāṃ na naśyati | brahma dhārayatāṃ nityaṃ vratāni niyamāṃs tathā ||
Bharadvāja dit : «Les brāhmaṇas qui demeurent établis dans la discipline de Brahman—agissant sous l’autorité des injonctions védiques, portant Brahman sans cesse par le souvenir et la récitation, et observant avec fermeté vœux et règles de retenue—ne perdent jamais le fruit de leur austérité. Leur tapas ne périt pas, car il est enraciné dans la conduite juste et l’adhésion fidèle à la loi sacrée.»
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity bears lasting fruit when it is grounded in Brahman/Vedic discipline—i.e., when one lives under scriptural guidance, maintains constant remembrance/holding of Brahman, and practices vows (vrata) and restraints (niyama). Such tapas is not wasted or destroyed.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Bharadvāja states a principle about spiritual practice: brāhmaṇas who remain firmly established in Vedic-spiritual discipline and consistent observances retain the enduring merit of their austerities.