Shloka 6
ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः
Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas
अहिंसको ज्ञानतृप्त: स ब्रह्मासनमर्हति । एते महर्त्विजस्तात सर्वे मान्या यथाहत:
ahiṃsako jñānatṛptaḥ sa brahmāsanam arhati | ete mahartvijaḥ tāta sarve mānyā yathāhataḥ ||
भीष्म ने कहा—जो अहिंसक है और सत्य ज्ञान से तृप्त है, वही ब्रह्मासन पर बैठने योग्य है। तात! ये सभी महान् ऋत्विज अपने-अपने यथोचित मान के पात्र हैं।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma links the highest spiritual eligibility (“Brahmā’s seat”) to ethical restraint: non-violence and inner fulfillment born of knowledge. He also teaches proportional respect—honor is due to worthy persons (here, great priests) according to their merit and role.
In the instruction-heavy Shanti Parva, Bhishma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. In this verse he praises the ideal of the non-violent, knowledge-satisfied person as supremely qualified, and he affirms that the eminent sacrificial priests present are all to be honored appropriately.