Adhyāya 284: Tapas as a Corrective to Household Attachment
Parāśara’s Instruction
क्षीरोदो हुदधीनां च यन्त्राणां धनुरेव च । वज्र: प्रहरणानां च व्रतानां सत्यमेव च,समुद्रोंमें क्षीरसागर, यन्त्रों (अस्त्रों)-में धनुष, चलाये जानेवाले आयुधोंमें वज्र और व्रतोंमें सत्य भी आप ही हैं
kṣīrodo hradadhīnāṁ ca yantrāṇāṁ dhanur eva ca | vajraḥ praharaṇānāṁ ca vratānāṁ satyam eva ca ||
ビーシュマは言った。「海のうちでは、汝は乳海である。器具と武器のうちでは、汝は弓である。打ち下ろす投擲武器のうちでは、汝はヴァジュラ(雷霆の金剛杵)である。誓戒のうちでは、汝は真実そのものである。」
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches that the Supreme is present as the highest excellence within every domain—nature, weaponry, and moral discipline—and that among vows the foremost is satya (truthfulness), making truth a central pillar of dharma.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīṣma continues a hymn-like enumeration identifying the Divine through superlatives (the best within each class), reinforcing ethical priorities—especially truth—as part of his broader dharma teaching.