Shloka 49
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
श्रूयते हि पुरा कल्पे नृणां ब्रीहिमय: पशु: । येनायजन्त यज्वान: पुण्यलोकपरायणा:
śrūyate hi purā kalpe nṛṇāṁ brīhimayaḥ paśuḥ | yenāyajanta yajvānāḥ puṇyalokaparāyaṇāḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Diceritakan bahawa pada zaman purba, bagi manusia ‘haiwan’ korban dalam yajña dibuat daripada beras. Dengan persembahan itu sahaja, para pelaksana upacara yang menumpukan diri kepada pencapaian alam kebajikan melaksanakan korban mereka—menunjukkan bahawa korban dapat disempurnakan melalui pengganti berasaskan bijirin yang tidak ganas, selaras dengan dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to ancient tradition to show that yajña need not require killing; a grain-based substitute (‘rice-animal’) can serve as the sacrificial offering, supporting a dharmic preference for non-violence while still honoring ritual intent.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he cites an old precedent: in a former age, sacrificers aiming at meritorious heavenly results performed rites using an offering made of rice, described metaphorically as the ‘paśu’ of the sacrifice.