Shloka 5
धर्मलक्षण-प्रश्नः (Marks and Sources of Dharma) | Chapter 251: Inquiry into the Definition of Dharma
ताप: पाक: प्रकाशश्न ज्योतिश्नक्षुश्न॒ पजचमम् । तस्य रूपं गुणं विद्यात् ताम्रगौरासितात्मकम्
tāpaḥ pākaḥ prakāśaś ca jyotiś cakṣuś ca pañcamam | tasya rūpaṃ guṇaṃ vidyāt tāmra-gaurāsitātmakam ||
Vyāsa menerangkan bahawa panas, memasak (mematangkan), penerangan, sinaran, dan daya penglihatan semuanya ialah kesan tejas—prinsip api. Bentuk yang dapat ditanggapi dan sifatnya hendaklah difahami sebagai tampak dalam rona seperti tembaga, cerah/putih, dan gelap. Implikasi etika ajaran ini ialah membezakan sebab daripada akibat: mengenali bagaimana unsur halus menzahir melalui fungsi dan sifat yang dapat diperhatikan, tanpa tersilap menganggap penampakan sebagai keseluruhan hakikat.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Tejas (the fire principle) is known by its functions—heat, transformation/cooking, illumination, radiance, and enabling sight—and by its visible qualities such as coppery, bright, or dark coloration; thus one should infer subtle causes from observable effects.
In the Shanti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Vyasa is enumerating the characteristics of a fundamental element (tejas/agni), describing how it manifests in the world and in the senses, as part of a broader teaching on tattvas and discernment.