Shloka 49
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
उदितेडनुदिते वापि श्रद्धधानो जितेन्द्रिय: । वह्निं जुहोति धर्मेण श्रद्धा वै कारणं महत्
udite 'nudite vāpi śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ | vahniṃ juhoti dharmeṇa śraddhā vai kāraṇaṃ mahat ||
ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଉଦୟ ସମୟରେ କିମ୍ବା ଉଦୟ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଯେ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାବାନ ଓ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟଜିତ ପୁରୁଷ ଧର୍ମାନୁସାରେ ଅଗ୍ନିରେ ଆହୁତି ଦିଏ—ସେହି କ୍ରିୟାର ପ୍ରଧାନ ଓ ନିର୍ଣ୍ଣାୟକ କାରଣ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧା ହିଁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the inner disposition—śraddhā (faithful, sincere intent)—is the principal factor that makes a dharmic act spiritually effective; correct timing and procedure matter, but faith is the decisive cause.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma explains to Yudhiṣṭhira that a disciplined person offering oblations into the sacred fire—whether at sunrise or before it—achieves the rite’s true purpose chiefly through faith.