Shloka 5
Adhyāya 214: Tapas Redefined—Perpetual Discipline, Hospitality, and the Ethics of Eating (तपः-निरूपणम्, विघसाशी-अतिथिप्रिय-धर्मः)
तांस्तानुपासते धर्मान् धर्मकामा यथागमम् । न त्वेषामर्थसामान्यमन्तरेण गुणानिमान्
tāṁs tān upāsate dharmān dharmakāmā yathāgamam | na tv eṣām arthasāmānyam antareṇa guṇān imān ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ceux qui désirent le dharma accomplissent, selon les Écritures, les divers devoirs rituels—tels les sacrifices—chacun dans la forme prescrite. Pourtant, ces pratiques ne donnent pas le but humain universellement recherché (surtout la délivrance) si elles ne sont pas accompagnées des vertus qui seront exposées ensuite.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Scripturally prescribed rituals and duties, though valid, do not by themselves secure the highest and universally desired end (notably liberation); they must be supported by essential virtues (guṇas) that Bhishma will enumerate next.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues advising the listener by distinguishing between performing various Vedic/ritual duties as taught in scripture and attaining the higher, common human goal, emphasizing the necessity of inner moral qualities.