Shloka 41
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
हिरण्यदानैगोंदानैर्भूमिदानैश्न सर्वश: । मांसस्याभक्षणे धर्मो विशिष्ट इति न: श्रुति:
hiraṇyadānai gōdānai bhūmidānaiś ca sarvaśaḥ | māṁsasyābhakṣaṇe dharmo viśiṣṭa iti naḥ śrutiḥ ||
Disse Bhīṣma: “Por dádivas de ouro, dádivas de vacas e dádivas de terras—por todos esses atos de caridade—alguém certamente obtém mérito; contudo, ouvimos da tradição sagrada que o dharma de abster-se de comer carne é ainda mais distinto do que tais dádivas.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that while major charities like donating gold, cows, and land are highly meritorious, the ethical discipline of not eating meat is regarded by tradition as an even higher form of dharma—because it aligns conduct with non-harm and restraint.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by ranking virtues: he acknowledges celebrated gifts (dāna) but elevates abstention from meat as a superior ethical practice, citing received sacred teaching (śruti).