Shloka 9
Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga
Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda
इष्टापूर्तादसाधूनां विगुणा जायते प्रजा
iṣṭāpūrtād asādhūnāṃ viguṇā jāyate prajā
Des sacrifices et des bienfaits publics accomplis par les injustes naît une descendance déficiente en vertu, dépourvue de bonnes qualités. Le mérite tiré de rites extérieurs, lorsqu’il prend racine dans une conduite mauvaise, ne donne ni progéniture noble ni fruits moraux salutaires.
चुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual sacrifice (iṣṭa) and charitable public works (āpūrta) do not by themselves guarantee good outcomes; when performed by the unrighteous, they fail to generate virtuous results and are said to produce morally deficient progeny. Inner character and right conduct are primary.
In the Śānti Parva’s discourse, Tulādhāra speaks as a moral instructor, critiquing reliance on external religious acts. He emphasizes that dharma depends on genuine virtue, not merely on performing sacrifices or acts of charity.