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 ||
ビーシュマは言った。「ユディシュティラよ、もしある者が戒めを守り、規律ある誓願に堅く立って、月ごとにアシュヴァメーダ（馬祀）を執り行うとしても、また別の者がただ酒と肉を断つだけであっても、両者の得る果は等しい。節制と行いの清浄がもたらす功徳は、最も壮大な祭儀の功徳に比肩しうるのだ。」
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.