Shloka 9
सुरा मत्स्या मधु मांसमासवं कूसरौदनम् | धूर्ते: प्रवर्तितं होतन्नैतद् वेदेषु कल्पितम्,सुरा, आसव, मधु, मांस और मछली तथा तिल और चावलकी खिचड़ी--इन सब वस्तुओंको धूर्तोंने यज्ञमें प्रचलित कर दिया है। वेदोंमें इनके उपयोगका विधान नहीं है
sūrā matsyā madhu māṁsam āsavaṁ kūsaraundanam | dhūrtaiḥ pravartitaṁ hy etan naitad vedeṣu kalpitam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Arak (surā), ikan, madu, daging, minuman yang diperam (āsava), serta persembahan bijan bersama bubur nasi—semuanya ini telah diperkenalkan ke dalam amalan yajña oleh orang yang licik. Penggunaan demikian tidak ditetapkan dalam Veda.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma asserts that certain offerings—especially intoxicants and animal/fish items—are later corruptions introduced by deceitful people and are not genuinely sanctioned by Vedic revelation; therefore, one should align ritual practice with authentic scriptural dharma rather than popular but dubious custom.
In Shanti Parva’s dharma instruction, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on right conduct and proper religious practice. Here he criticizes the inclusion of liquor, meat, fish, and related food-offerings in yajña, claiming these became customary through manipulation and are not truly Vedic prescriptions.