Shloka 5
धर्मलक्षण-प्रश्नः (Marks and Sources of Dharma) | Chapter 251: Inquiry into the Definition of Dharma
ताप: पाक: प्रकाशश्न ज्योतिश्नक्षुश्न॒ पजचमम् । तस्य रूपं गुणं विद्यात् ताम्रगौरासितात्मकम्
tāpaḥ pākaḥ prakāśaś ca jyotiś cakṣuś ca pañcamam | tasya rūpaṃ guṇaṃ vidyāt tāmra-gaurāsitātmakam ||
व्यास कहते हैं—ताप, पाक (पकाना/परिपाक), प्रकाश, ज्योति (दीप्ति) और नेत्रेन्द्रिय—ये सब तेज (अग्नितत्त्व) के कार्य हैं। इसके प्रत्यक्ष रूप-गुण को ताम्र, गौर (उज्ज्वल) और असित (श्याम) आदि वर्णों में प्रकट मानना चाहिए।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Tejas (the fire principle) is known by its functions—heat, transformation/cooking, illumination, radiance, and enabling sight—and by its visible qualities such as coppery, bright, or dark coloration; thus one should infer subtle causes from observable effects.
In the Shanti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Vyasa is enumerating the characteristics of a fundamental element (tejas/agni), describing how it manifests in the world and in the senses, as part of a broader teaching on tattvas and discernment.