Shloka 8
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
यो यजेताश्वमेधेन मासि मासि यतव्रतः । वर्जयेन्मधु मांसं च सममेतद् युधिष्ठिर
yo yajetāśvamedhena māsi māsi yatavrataḥ | varjayen madhu māṁsaṁ ca samam etad yudhiṣṭhira ||
ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର! ଯେ ପୁରୁଷ ନିୟମପୂର୍ବକ ବ୍ରତ ପାଳନ କରି ମାସେ ମାସେ ଅଶ୍ୱମେଧ ଯଜ୍ଞ କରେ, ଏବଂ ଯେ କେବଳ ମଦ୍ୟ ଓ ମାଂସକୁ ବର୍ଜନ କରେ—ଉଭୟଙ୍କୁ ସମାନ ଫଳ ମିଳେ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that ethical self-restraint—specifically renouncing intoxicants and meat—can yield merit equal to repeated performance of a grand royal sacrifice like the Aśvamedha, emphasizing inner discipline over external ritual magnitude.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s dharma-instruction setting, Bhishma continues advising King Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct, comparing the spiritual fruit of massive sacrificial rites with the fruit of simple but firm moral renunciation.