Shloka 13
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
ऋषिधर्म: स्मृतो यत्र सरहस्यो महाफल: । महायज्ञफलं चैव सर्वदानफलं तथा
ṛṣidharmaḥ smṛto yatra sa-rahasyo mahāphalaḥ | mahāyajñaphalaṃ caiva sarvadānaphalaṃ tathā ||
അവിടെ രഹസ്യസഹിതവും മഹാഫലപ്രദവുമായ ഋഷിധർമ്മം സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; കൂടാതെ മഹായജ്ഞഫലവും സർവ്വദാനഫലവും പ്രതിപാദിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the tradition of the sages (ṛṣi-dharma) is not merely external ritual: it contains inner principles (rahasya) and yields great merit, and it also authoritatively explains the ethical-spiritual fruits of sacrifice (yajña) and giving (dāna).
Bhishma, instructing on dharma in the Anushasana Parva, praises a body of teaching that comprehensively expounds hidden doctrines—especially connected with rites like śrāddha—and clarifies the rewards of major sacrifices and all forms of charity.