Shloka 21
Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency
Mahābhārata 12.292
स चाप्यग्न्याहितो विप्र: क्रिया यस्य न हीयते । श्रेयो हानाहिताग्नित्वमग्निहोत्रं न निष्क्रियम्
sa cāpy agnyāhito vipraḥ kriyā yasya na hīyate | śreyo hānāhitāgnitvam agnihotraṃ na niṣkriyam ||
Et ce brāhmane aussi, qui a établi les feux sacrés et dont les rites prescrits ne défaillent pas : mieux vaut, en vérité, ne pas entretenir les feux rituels que d’accomplir un Agnihotra vidé de sa force, sans efficacité rituelle ni discipline dans l’acte.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual status and outward observance are not sufficient; if the Agnihotra and related duties are performed without proper discipline, intent, and efficacy, it is ethically better not to claim or maintain the ritual-fire status at all. Dharma prioritizes genuine, effective practice over hollow form.
Parāśara is instructing about the standards of righteous conduct for a brāhmaṇa, using the example of the āhitāgni and the Agnihotra to emphasize that rites must be sustained correctly; otherwise, the mere external badge of ritualism becomes spiritually counterproductive.