Shloka 18
ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः
Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas
अहिंसा सत्यवचनमानृशंस्यं दमो घृणा । एतत् तपो विदुर्धीरा न शरीरस्य शोषणम्,किसी भी प्राणीकी हिंसा न करना, सत्य बोलना, क्रूरताको त्याग देना, मन और इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखना तथा सबके प्रति दयाभाव बनाये रखना--इन्हींको धीर पुरुषोंने तप माना है। केवल शरीरको सुखाना ही तप नहीं है
ahiṃsā satyavacanam ānṛśaṃsyaṃ damo ghṛṇā | etat tapo vidur dhīrā na śarīrasya śoṣaṇam ||
ଅହିଂସା, ସତ୍ୟବଚନ, ଅନୃଶଂସ୍ୟ (କ୍ରୂରତାର ତ୍ୟାଗ), ମନ–ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟ ଦମନ (ସଂଯମ) ଓ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀ ପ୍ରତି କରୁଣା—ଧୀରମାନେ ଏହିମାନଙ୍କୁ ହିଁ ତପ ବୋଲି ଜାଣନ୍ତି; କେବଳ ଶରୀରକୁ ଶୋଷାଇବା ତପ ନୁହେଁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True tapas is ethical and inward discipline—non-violence, truthfulness, kindness, self-restraint, and compassion—rather than merely punishing or starving the body.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira by redefining austerity as moral conduct and controlled living, not external bodily mortification.