Shloka 86
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
शुश्रूषाभिस्तपोभिश्व विद्यामादाय भारत । ये प्रतिग्रहनि:स्नेहास्ते नरा: स्वर्गगामिन:,भारत! जो गुरुशुश्रूषा और तपस्यापूर्वक वेदाध्ययन करके प्रतिग्रहमें आसक्त नहीं होते, वे लोग स्वर्गगामी होते हैं
śuśrūṣābhis tapobhiś ca vidyām ādāya bhārata | ye pratigraha-niḥsnehās te narāḥ svargagāminaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, mereka yang memperoleh ilmu suci melalui khidmat setia kepada guru dan melalui tapa, serta tidak terikat pada penerimaan hadiah atau naungan—mereka itulah yang menuju syurga.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True sacred learning is not merely intellectual; it is earned through disciplined austerity and humble service to the teacher, and it bears fruit when one remains detached from the lure of gifts and dependence on patrons. Such integrity and self-restraint lead to higher spiritual merit and heavenly attainment.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he highlights the ideal of the learned person: one who studies through tapas and guru-service, yet stays unentangled by attachment to receiving gifts (pratigraha), thereby becoming worthy of svarga.