Shloka 2
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
भीष्म उवाच अवेदोत्तव्रताश्चैव भुज्जाना: कामकारणे । वेदोक्तेषु तु भुज्जाना व्रतलुप्ता युधिष्ठिर
bhīṣma uvāca avedottavratāś caiva bhuñjānāḥ kāmakāraṇe | vedokteṣu tu bhuñjānā vrataluptā yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira, ada yang makan semata karena dorongan hasrat, menjalankan laku yang tidak berlandaskan Veda. Namun bahkan mereka yang makan hanya menurut ketentuan Veda pun disebut ‘melanggar vrata’ bila mereka meninggalkan disiplin dan maksud dari vrata itu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma distinguishes between eating motivated by craving and eating governed by disciplined observance. Even when one follows Vedic prescriptions externally, the vow is considered ‘lost’ if the inner restraint and purpose of the vow are abandoned.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct, he comments on food and observances (vrata), warning that desire-driven indulgence and laxity in discipline undermine the ethical value of ritual practice.