Shloka 50
अनुशासनपर्व अध्याय ९३ — तपस्, सदोपवास, विघसाशन, अतिथिप्रियता
Austerity, regulated fasting, residual-eating, and hospitality
स्वाध्यायनिष्ठा ऋषयो ज्ञाननिष्ठास्तथैव च | तपोनिष्छाश्ष बोद्धव्या: कर्मनिष्ठाश्न भारत
svādhyāyaniṣṭhā ṛṣayo jñānaniṣṭhās tathaiva ca | taponiṣṭhāś ca boddhavyāḥ karmaniṣṭhāś ca bhārata bhārata ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, pahamilah bahwa di antara para resi ada yang teguh dalam svādhyāya (telaah suci), ada yang teguh dalam jñāna (pengetahuan sejati), ada yang teguh dalam tapas (laku tapa), dan ada pula yang teguh dalam karma (pelaksanaan tindakan yang berdisiplin).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that spiritual excellence is not confined to a single method: sages may be firmly grounded in sacred study, knowledge, austerity, or dutiful action. Each can be a valid discipline when pursued with steadiness (niṣṭhā) and aligned with dharma.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he classifies sages by their predominant commitment—study, knowledge, austerity, or action—guiding the king to respect diverse legitimate modes of religious and ethical life.