Shloka 8
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
यो यजेताश्वमेधेन मासि मासि यतव्रतः । वर्जयेन्मधु मांसं च सममेतद् युधिष्ठिर
yo yajetāśvamedhena māsi māsi yatavrataḥ | varjayen madhu māṁsaṁ ca samam etad yudhiṣṭhira ||
Wahai Yudhishthira, bila seorang lelaki, teguh dalam laku tapa dan ikrar, melakukan kurban Aśvamedha bulan demi bulan, dan yang lain sekadar menjauhi minuman memabukkan serta daging—keduanya memperoleh buah yang sama.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that ethical self-restraint—specifically renouncing intoxicants and meat—can yield merit equal to repeated performance of a grand royal sacrifice like the Aśvamedha, emphasizing inner discipline over external ritual magnitude.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s dharma-instruction setting, Bhishma continues advising King Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct, comparing the spiritual fruit of massive sacrificial rites with the fruit of simple but firm moral renunciation.