Shloka 21
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
ब्राह्मणैश्व तप:सिद्धैस्तापसै: श्रमणैस्तथा । त्रिविष्टपसमं मन््ये तवायतनमेव हि,“तपस्यासे शुद्ध हुए तापसों, ब्राह्मणों तथा श्रमणोंसे संयुक्त हो तुम्हारा यह स्थान मुझे स्वर्गके समान जान पड़ता है!
brāhmaṇaiś ca tapaḥsiddhais tāpasaiḥ śramaṇais tathā | triviṣṭapasamaṃ manye tavāyatanam eva hi ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Kerana tempat ini dimuliakan oleh para Brāhmaṇa yang sempurna melalui tapa, oleh para pertapa rimba, dan juga oleh para śramaṇa yang meninggalkan dunia, maka aku memandang kediamanmu ini sendiri setara dengan Triviṣṭapa (syurga).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A place becomes 'heaven-like' not by wealth or power but by the presence of spiritually disciplined people—those perfected in tapas and committed to renunciation—implying that holiness is created through virtue, restraint, and the company of the wise.
Bhīṣma, in his Śānti Parva instruction, praises the addressee’s abode as comparable to heaven because it is frequented by accomplished Brāhmaṇas and ascetics (tāpasas and śramaṇas), highlighting the sanctifying influence of such company.