Mahabharata 3.201.97 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 201, Shloka 97
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
अग्निहोत्रं वने वास: शरीरपरिशोषणम् | सर्वाण्येतानि मिथ्या स्युर्यदि भावो न निर्मल:
agnihotraṁ vane vāsaḥ śarīra-pariśoṣaṇam | sarvāṇy etāni mithyā syur yadi bhāvo na nirmalaḥ ||
ଅଗ୍ନିହୋତ୍ର, ବନବାସ, ଏବଂ ଶରୀରକୁ ଶୋଷାଇବା—ଯଦି ଭାବ ନିର୍ମଳ ନୁହେଁ, ତେବେ ଏ ସବୁ ମିଥ୍ୟା ହୁଏ।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
External religious acts—rituals, forest-dwelling, and bodily austerities—do not become dharma by appearance alone. Their value depends on a nirmala bhāva: a pure inner intention free from hypocrisy, pride, or ulterior motive.
In the Vana Parva’s reflective discourse setting, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a moral evaluation of ascetic practices, emphasizing that inner purity is the criterion by which such practices are judged meaningful or futile.
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