Shloka 21
Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency
Mahābhārata 12.292
स चाप्यग्न्याहितो विप्र: क्रिया यस्य न हीयते । श्रेयो हानाहिताग्नित्वमग्निहोत्रं न निष्क्रियम्
sa cāpy agnyāhito vipraḥ kriyā yasya na hīyate | śreyo hānāhitāgnitvam agnihotraṃ na niṣkriyam ||
ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿದ ಆ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನಿಗೂ, ಯಾರು ವಿಧಿಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಗ್ಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲವೋ—ಶಿಸ್ತು ಮತ್ತು ಫಲಶಕ್ತಿಯಿಲ್ಲದ (ನಿಷ್ಕ್ರಿಯ) ಅಗ್ನಿಹೋತ್ರ ಮಾಡುವುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳನ್ನು ಪಾಲಿಸದೇ ಇರುವುದೇ ಶ್ರೇಯಸ್ಕರ.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual status and outward observance are not sufficient; if the Agnihotra and related duties are performed without proper discipline, intent, and efficacy, it is ethically better not to claim or maintain the ritual-fire status at all. Dharma prioritizes genuine, effective practice over hollow form.
Parāśara is instructing about the standards of righteous conduct for a brāhmaṇa, using the example of the āhitāgni and the Agnihotra to emphasize that rites must be sustained correctly; otherwise, the mere external badge of ritualism becomes spiritually counterproductive.